/ 






PETER THE GREAT 



A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS 






,^*,- 



LAURENCE IRVING 



{Printed for private use only.] 




TWO COPIES RECEIVED 



r-i-t . / 



*-w *> h^ 



.»^> 






Copyright, i8g7, 
By Laurence Irving. 



THE DEVINNE PRESS, NEW YORK, U.S.A. 



/ 



^J2-«/ 



PERSONS IN THE PLAY. 



^6 



{^Peter' s fellow-workers) 



{hostile to Peter') 



Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia 

Alexis {his son) 

Prince Menshikoff 

Peter Tolstoi, afterwards " Count " 

Admiral Apraxin 

Prince Dolgorouki 

Colonel Roumiantzoff 

Prince Abraham Lapoukhine {Endoxia's brother) 

Prince Zabouroff j 

Mansouroff S 

Alexander Kikine 

Jacob Ignatieff {Alexis^ Confessor) 

Field-Marshal Count Daun ( Viceroy of Naples) 

General Bauer {a German) 

Major Steinmitz 

Two Neapolitan Captains 

Carlo 

Catherine {Empress of Russia, Petet^s second wife) 

Eudoxia {divorced by Peter and mother to Alexis) 

EUPHROSINE {Alexis' mistress) 

Masha 

Boyars, Ecclesiastics, Officers, Officials, Soldiers, Citizens, etc. 
Period— 1717-18. 



Act I. 


Moscow. 


Act II. 


St. Petersburg 


Act III. . 


Naples. 


Act IV. . 


St. Petersburg 


Act V. 


St. Petersburg 



ACT I. 

SCENE.^ Moscow, the Kremliii. Summer time. A 
gloomy, vaulted, circular apartment, leading out 
through large wijtdow at back on to a raised way, 
faced by a parapet and led up to by a flight of steps 
{out of sight). Door right, ajar Two doors left. 
A large table with food and dri7ik on it, in middle 
of room ; a smaller table, covered with papers 
and writing materials, down L. A bureau, style 
Louis XIV., against right wall; on bureau, two 
dirty books, several maps, some mathematical in- 
struments, and a mariner's compass, all mixed up 
anyhow ; this bureau is the one piece of furniture 
in the room that is not in the old Russian style. 
A couch at right of window. Ikons with a light 
in front of them. 

[Discovered, seated at large table. Prince 
Lapoukhine, Prince Dolgorouki, 
Prince Zabouroff, Kikine and Man- 
SOUROFF. The meal is over, the drink 
is circulating freely. Lapoukhine, Zab- 
OUROFF and Mansouroff are dressed 
in the old Russian costume, and bearded. 
Kikine ^^a' Dolgorouki are dressed like 
Europeans, and clean-shaven. At table, 
left, two Acolytes discovered writing at 
Father Jacob Ignatieff's dictation:\ 

Mansour. [ F^rj/ ^r««/^.] Supposing 

Do Igor. Pigs ? 
Mansour. Peter 



Dolgor. Fly? 
Mansour. Defeated ! 
Zab. and Lapouk. Oh ! oh ! 
Mansour. Suppose, I say — 



Dolgor. Silence for Mansouroff! 

Mansour. Suppose, I say 

Dolgor. Peter 

Mansour. Suppose, I say, Peter 

Dolgor. Flying ? 

Mansour. Suppose .... Peter. . . . flying- 

Dolgor. A pig ? 

Zab. 



. Prince ! Prince ! 

Lapouk. 

Mansour. By your leave ! Suppose .... Peter 
. . . . flying .... a pig. 

Dolgor. Suppose Peter flying a pig ! 

Mansour. But these are details. Suppose — 

Kikine. \ 

Lapouk. > Enough ! Enough ! 

Zab. ) 

Mansour. By your leave ! Suppose .... Peter 
.... defeated ! 

Dolgor. Ah ! Suppose Peter defeated ! What then ? 

Mansour. Then — 

Dolgor. What? 

Mansour. What ? 

Dolgor. Then ! 

Kikine. Then — why, down with Peter and up with 
Alexis ! Down with the father, up with the son ! 

\General assent. 

Zab. Down with Germans ! Down with heretics ! 
Down with them in there ! 

Dolgor. Yes, down with Russia ! 

Zab. No, down with Peter ! 

Kikine. Peter 's not Russia ! 



Lapoiik. Peter 's not Russia ! 

Zab. Peter 's not Russia ! 

Dolgor. If Peter 's to be defeated, it follows the 
Turk, the infidel 

Kikine. No worser infidel than Peter ! 

Lapouk. No worser infidel than Peter ! 

Mansour. These are details. 

Kikine. \S tar ting to his feet, in a loud voice ^ De- 
struction to- 

[DOLGOROUKI lays hand on KiKlNE's wrist, 
designates door R., standing opeit ; KiKlNE 
looks blank and goes to shut it.~\ 

Mansour. But these are details. 

\As Kikine is about to shut door, enter 
Menshikoff, several unopened despatches 
under his arm ; stands for a moment look- 
ing over a plan. IGNATIEFF steals up be- 
hind him and looks over his shoulder. At 
that moment enter ToLSTOl, who catches 
Ignatieff in the act.^ 

Tolstoi. Er — Prince! 

[Menshikoff looks up. Ignatieff draws 
back. 

Menshik. Who here knows ? Where is the Re- 
gent ? \_Silence^ Come, someone here must know. 
\To Ignatieff.] You're his confessor. Don't you 
know ? 

Ignat. [ Very slowly. '\ Know what ? 

Menshik. You heard me ! Know where Alexis is? 

Ignat. \In same tone. ] Do you mean Alexis the 
baker's boy, or Alexis the tin-smith ? 

Menshik. Take care ! You know very well whom 
I mean — the Regent ! the Regent ! the Regent ! 



Ignat. You mean His Imperial Highness Alexis 
Petrovitch ? 

Tolstoi. [Tt? Menshikoff.] They grow so bold: 
they've heard something. 

Menshik. \_Suddenly, catching KiKINE by the throat. ] 
Where's the Tsarevitch ? You're his bosom friend. 
Out with it, you 

Kikine. Your Excellence, I left him at 



Enter a Courier. Menshikoff sigjts to him; he 
hands despatch to MENSHIKOFF. 

Menshik. [ IVith a shrug.'] For the Regent. 

Ignat. [Aside to KiKlNE.] You dare tell him ! 

Tolstoi. We had better open them ourselves. 

Menshik. Let's first try everything. \To First 
Officer.] Go to the Treasury, enquire for the 
Regent. \_Exit First Officer. To Second Officer.] 
Go to — er — and they know every one of them — Go 
anywhere, only find him. 

Ignat. [Aside to Acolyte.] Make him come, and 
at once ! 

[Exit Second Officer, Acolyte after him. 

Menshik. As for you — when the Tsar returns 



[Exeunt Menshikoff ««<3? Tolstoi. Men- 
shikoff closes door. 

Ignat. If, worthy Prince, if! 
Zab. Do you really think ? 



[Door is burst open, and a half-fainting 
Courier crosses stage. 

Ignat. Are these the couriers of victory ? I saw 
their map ! [Demonstrating with glasses, etc.] Peter ! 
Turks ! Turks ! Turks ! 

Kikine. If only they'd take Peter prisoner ! 



Ignat. \_Looking upT^ Strange-sounding words from 
your lips, son ! 

Kikine. Why strange from my lips ? 

Tolstoi. {Putting his head through door, R., leaving 
it open."] Rather warm, isn't it ? 

Mansour. Shut that door ! 

\The following scene played in a low voice ^ 

Kikine. Why strange from my lips ? 

Ignat. He asks — and he stands there in Peter's 
livery ! 

Mansour. Details. 

Zab. With his smooth girl's face. 

Ignat. And that perruque stuck on his head ! 

Kikine. And Prince Dolgorouki ? Why all go 
at me ? 

Dolgor. That follows not. 

Mansour. Shut that door ! 

Dolgor. I serve Peter; I love Peter; I adopt his 
clothes, his periwig, and his shave. I profess the new, 
and I practise the new ! You profess one thing and 
practise quite another. \_General assent. 

Kikine. It's all very well 

Lapouk. I sadly fear you are a coward, young sir ! 

Ignat. Worse ; a traitor ! 

Kikijie. I ! Traitor ? 

Dolgor. To Peter, certainly. 

Ignat. And to Russia. Just now you would have 
told them where to find Alexis. 

Kikine. When I don't know. 

Ignat. Oh, don't you ! 

Kikine. And if I had, what difference would it have 
made ? 

Ignat. The difference between Peter Tsar and 
Alexis Tsar. 



Mansour. But these are details. 
Ignat. Traitor to Peter ! traitor to Russia ! and 
traitor to your Church, 

Mansour. \Solemnly^ But these are details. 

\_Rises with difficulty, steadies himself, moves 
towards door R. 

Lapouk. Traitor ! Traitor ! 

Kikine. Ay ! ay ! it's easy enough for all of you to 
turn and round and run in at me ! When Peter's 
here — where are you all ? Nowhere near him, that's 
certain — yes, and you too, Father Ignatieff! But 
me ? — at his heels ; under his fist, so to say ! What 
would you do in my place, if you were me? — Come 
now ! 

Ignat. [To Acolyte.] By the small door. Let 
no one see her ! \_Bxit Acolyte.] They would do as 
they do now — pay Peter's iniquitous tax, but keep 
their reverent beards, their reverent clothes. 

[Mansouroff staggers to door R., and closes 
it. In making his way back to table, he 
falls on to divan and goes to sleep. 

Kikine. Much use that were ! You don't know, 
you see ! Tax or no tax, if you're about his person, 
one day, when he's feeling a bit jovial, just for fun 
you know — whit ! — out comes half your beard ! 
Only he takes the skin as well. Gentlemen, I prefer 
to shave. You don't know, you see ! He struck 
my two brothers' heads off with his own hands ! 
[Pulls up his sleeve.'] I had this of his sword. 

Zab. He kills you, if you won't do as he wants ; if 
you will, the doing it kills you. 

Lapouk. Have not our families all suffered in the 
good cause ? 



Ignat. Whose worse than yours ? Think of your 
sister's wrongs. 

Lapouk. Ay, think of them ! 

Ignat. She, your lawful empress — whilst this lewd 
German Catherine usurps her place — for twelve 
long years shut in a nunnery, bereft of state and 
son. Why ? Because she dared speak what you 
men are afraid to whisper ; because she dared do 
what you men dare scarcely speak ! Ye men ! ye 
cowards ! 

Kikine. Shame on us. \Tears off wig and stamps 
on it.] Under my feet. \_Tearing off coat.~\ Off, 
badge ! Off, stigma ! Come off, I say ! 

Lapouk. and Zab. Well done ! Well done ! 

Kikine. [ Crossing to bureau and picking up mathe- 
matical instruments. ] See — Peter's trash ! 

Zab. What things are those ? 

Lapouk. His instruments of torture. 

Dolgor. [ To himself^ Compasses. 

Kikine. {^Picking up maps.'\ Here again ! 

Lapouk. Do not touch them ! 

Ignat. They are spells and magic. 

Dolgor. \As before^ Maps. 

Kikine. \_Having picked up compass.'] Ah, see ! 

Zab. It moves. 

Lapouk. There's a live devil in it. 

Dolgor. A mariner's compass ! 

Kikine. Whichever way you turn it — it still only 
points 

Ignat. \_Dashing compass out of his hand.] The 
way to hell ! 

Enter Menshikoff, ToLSTOl, APRAXIN, etc. 
Kikine hurriedly resumes wig and coat. 

Menshik. What's all this noise, you drunkards ? 



Enter GENERAL Bauer, in wild excitement. 

Bauer. Prince, not a gun, not a man has left the 
city ! 

Menshik. You've had your orders ! 

Bauer. I haven't ! 

Menshik. Good heavens ! Apraxin ! 

Apraxin. \_Firing up.'] Nothing to do with me ! 

Menshik. Nothing to 

Tolstoi. Not before them. 

Enter Two Ofificers together. 

Menshik. Have you found the Regent ? 
ist O. No, and we've been everywhere. 

[Menshikoff looks to Tolstoi, who nods 

to Menshikoff. Menshikoff begins 

opening despatches. 

Lapouk. Open them at your peril! \Turning to 
others^ Princes, am I not right ? 

Dolgor. [Joining himself to Menshikoff's party. "] 
You are not right ! [Pause. 

Tolstoi. Go on ! 

[Menshikoff tears open despatches. 

Lapouk. An act of treason ! Witness, gentlemen ! 
[Menshikoff opens despatch, hands it to 
Tolstoi, who hands it to Apraxin. 

Silence. 

Menshik. [To himself.'] Defeat! 
Tolstoi. [Aside to MENSHIKOFF.] Let us provide 
for our own safety ! [Aloud.] The best of news. 
Come, gentlemen, let us prepare to receive the 
victors ! 

[Exeunt MENSHIKOFF, Tolstoi, Dolgo- 
ROUKI, etc. 



Ignat. [ Who pounces upon despatch APRAXIN has let 
fall.'] The Tsar is prisoner! \_Tears up despatch.] 
The time has come. 

Lapouk. Father Jacob, you are wise ; advise us 
what to do. 

Ignat. The Tsarevitch is ours. 

Zab. When we can find him ! 

Ignat. I have sent for him ; he will soon be here. 
But it is not the son we need ; it is the mother. 

Lapouk.^ w^ listen. 

Zab. > 

Ignat. Our cause's chief must be our cause's 
martyr, Eudoxia ! 

Lapouk. \ 

Zab. > Eudoxia, the martyr of our cause ! 

Kikine. ) 

Kikme. Let us release her ! 

Ignat. Stop ! She is free ! She is in Moscow. 

Lapouk. \ 

Zab. > Free, and in Moscow ! 

Kikine. ) 

Ignat. Go through the city, proclaim the tidings, 
gather the people in the square below; and in half- 
an-hour we'll have Alexis Tsar of Russia. 

[Exetmt hAFOUK. andZAB., crying " A'LEXIS 
Tsar of Russia ! Peter's a prisoner ! " 

Kikine. Is Peter a prisoner ? 

Ignat. Why don't you follow the others ? 

Kikine. No, thank you ; I have a bone to pick 
with you. You handled me very roughly just now. 
I know why ; because you're envious of my influence 
over Alexis. What I want to know is why we 
shouldn't work him together ? 

Ignat. I don't understand you. Is that all you 
have to say ? 

13 



Kikine. That is all. Oh, Father Jacob, you're very 
deep ! 

Ignat. What are you waiting for ? 

Kikine. For the Tsarevitch. 

Ignat. He will have left Euphrosine all alone. 

Kikine. I thank you for the hint. Yes, that would 
certainly be pleasanter, for, between ourselves, Alexis 
is a devilishly dull companion. 

{^Exit Kikine. 

Ignat. Now, if I can only persuade Alexis to sign 
this order for his mother's release, the whole respon- 
sibility will be shifted to his shoulders in case the 
Tsar return. But Alexis, though he dearly loves his 
mother, he mightily fears his father. Still, I fancy 
I — here he comes ! 

\E71ter Alexis reading ; stops short, glances 
round room, evinces repulsion; stoops, picks 
up and replaces compass on bureau ; moves 
towards window; makes a spasmodic move- 
ment of rapture ; stands looking out of 
window; appears uneasy under Igna- 
TIEFF'S steady gaze. 

Alexis. Well, Father, you sent for me ; I have 
come. 

Ignat. At the third summons, son. 

Alexis. I know. I could not come before. 

Ignat. Or would not — which ? 

Alexis. Which you like. 

Ignat. Which I like ! Ah, son, time was 

\Coolly takes book out of Alexis' hand and 
throws it on to floor 

Alexis. \Jumping up."] Yes, and that time is over ! 
Pick up that book and hand it back to me ! Pick up 
that book ! 

14 



Ignat. \Handing back dook."] Nowadays our old 
and long outstanding sins have become to us so 
easy and familiar that we run — yes ! nay, even 
with unburdened consciences — to the commission of 
fresh evils. 

Alexis. What do you mean ? If you mean — No, 
my love is pure and high ; it is no sin. Ah ! until 
to-day I never really knew 

Ig7iat. What did you never know until to-day ? 

Alexis. I never knew before Euphrosine 

Ignat. What did you never know until to-day — 
before Euphrosine ? 

Alexis. What it was to love and to be loved ! What 
life and summer were, and bliss and joy ! What 
heaven was in a woman's love on earth ! To-day I 
have stood, crowned, upon the summits ! 

Ig7iat. \_Scornftilly.'] " Until to-day — before Eu- 
phrosine ! " What of your mother's years on years 
of changeless love ? 

Alexis. My poor unhappy mother ! 

Ignat. Unhappy — ay, in having such a son ! 

Alexis. Why ? What have I done ? Tell me 
what have I done ? 

Ignat. Your sin consists in what you have failed 
to do. Are not you the Regent ? 

Alexis. My father's Regent. 

Ignat. Does not your mother lie immured ? 

Alexis. Is that my sin ? 

Ignat. That, having the power, you do not set her 
free. 

Alexis. What do you mean ? You know I must 
not — dare not ! Are you mad ? Would you destroy 
me ? You know my father's 

Ignat. Your father 

Alexis. No, no, no ! No, no ! 

3 15 



Ignat. Is a prisoner. 

Alexis. A prisoner — father ! \A huge sigh of re- 
lief i\ But are you sure ? 

Ignat. Your father is a prisoner with the Turks. 

Alexis. Then, mother, be thou free ! 

Ignat. Sign this — her release ! 

Alexis. I will, I will ! \_Preparing to sign.'\ Be 

thou free, mother ! Mother, be thou Will he 

not return ? 

Ignat. Do right, and fear no consequence. 

[EUDOXIA is introduced at back. 

Alexis. Why must I sign ? I do not want to 
sign. Can it not be done as though without my 
knowledge ? 

Ignat. Do you delay ? 

Alexis. \About to sign.'\ But how will she treat 
Euphrosine ? 

Ignat. Shame on you ! Sign ! 

Alexis. Mother was proud, Euphrosine is humble. 
\_Gets up^ Is it so well? In ten years things are so 
changed. 

Ignat. A mother's love never changes ; it would 
seem a son's does. Sign, or never more come to me 
for absolution ! 

[Alexis, turning round, sees Eudoxia. 

Alexis. Oh ! Mother ! 

Eudoxia. \In a half-choked voice^ My son ! my 
son ! 

[Eudoxia opens her arms ; Alexis rushes 
into them. 

Eudoxia. \_Crying for joy.'l I never thought — my 
i6 



son ! my son ! — after twelve years ! Oh, my darling 
boy ! Changed ? No, not at all ! My Alexis — oh, 
my son ! 

Alexis. {Kneeling.l Mother, forgive me ! 
Eiidoxia. Why, for what ? 

Alexis. For what I said just now. I — I — my 
darling mother ; my dear, devoted mother ! 

Eudoxia. He loves me still ! He does ! — he loves 
me still ! 

Ignat. [7i7 Alexis.] Come, your signature ! 
Eudoxia. \_Crossiftg herself.'] Thank Heavens! 
[Advances to Ignatieff.] To what ? [Ignatieff, 
taken aback.] I ask you, Father Jacob, to what ? 

Ignat. To this edict, madam, for your reinstate- 
ment. 

Eudoxia. And for yourself. Father Jacob ? What 
for yourself? 

Ignat. The happy knowledge 

Eudoxia. Of having vilely abused the holiest of 
trusts — the trust a mother charged upon you to 
watch over her motherless son. How have you used 
that trust ? 

Ignat. To set you free, to set you on the throne. 
Eudoxia. I refuse them both ! 

Ignat. Then you mean to use your liberty 

Eudoxia. To warn my son. Yes, clever Father, 
this time it is you who have been my dupe. You 
should have remembered that, if I was once an 
Empress, I was always a mother. 

Ig7iat. Well said, madam ! We now understand 
one another clearly. We entertain opposite views 
as to the nature of your son's true interests. I shall 
continue to labour for them as I understand them ! 

\Exit. 
Alexis. Mother, what does this mean ? 

17 



Eudoxia. That in the future your father's enemies 
must be also yours. 

Alexis. There is nothing to fear. Father is pris- 
oner. 

Eudoxia. They say so, but I do not beHeve it. 

Alexis. Is not ? And you here ! He will come 
back ! He will find you here. You will destroy me. 

Eudoxia. No, son, I will save you. Listen to me 
well! — I am looking on you perhaps for the last 
time on earth — I charge you, my poor, distracted 
son — I charge you, love your father and do his 
work. 

Alexis. Mother, between my father and myself 
there is, and there can be, no love. 

Eudoxia. In all these twelve years have you and 
he not drawn together — not at all ? 

Alexis. No, not an inch ! Just as you left us, 
there we stand now. 

Eudoxia. Listen to me. You are his only son ; 
you are his successor. He may be careless towards 
you ; he is still strong. But the time is near at hand 
when he will turn to lean on you, the destined suc- 
cessor to his great work. If he then find you wilful 
or unwilling, remember my fate. He has not spared 
himself, he will not spare you. 

Alexis. Mother, would you see me slaughtering — 
butchering ? 

Eudoxia. I want to see you live. 

Alexis. How do you mean ? 

Eudoxia. I say love him, love, love — yes, even 
love Catherine. Ah ! It has cost me something to 
say that. Love his work ! 

Alexis. His work! his work! Go down into the 
street and you shall see a row of festering heads on 
spikes. That is my father's work, would you have 

i8 



me do that ? [^Distant sound of murmurs.'] You'll 
see a batch of wretches, chained neck to neck, leg 
to leg, mercilessly beaten, branded — these are his 
recruits. See these men later, when my father has 
reformed them — every foul crime written on their 
faces, schooled to blood and rapine, brutes and 
worse than brutes — these are my father's soldiers ; 
these are his workers, the men after his own heart! 
And the fruit of all his work? — Universal degra- 
dation, and for himself, the title of the Great. 
\Confused sound of people in the distance^ Great in 
the tearing of flesh and the shedding of blood. 
\_Murmurs nearer.'] Listen ! 

Eudoxia. What is it, son ? 

Alexis. Do you hear nothing ? 

Eudoxia. I hear a confused noise of people. 

Alexis. There is some commotion. Listen ! We 
shall know now. 

Enter IGNATIEFF. 

What has happened ? 

Ignat. Do you not hear the people — {opening 
doors] — a mighty people crying aloud, as with one 
voice, for their Tsar ! 

{Throws open window. Cries of " Long live 
the Tsar Alexis ! " Silence. 

Eudoxia. [To IGNATIEFF.] You villain ! 
Alexis. {Looking straight in front of him.] Tsar 
.... Tsar Alexis .... Tsar ! 
Eudoxia. Son, do not heed them ! 
Ignat. [21? People.] Here is your Tsar Alexis ! 

{A shout. 
Alexis. Tsar .... Tsar Alexis ! . . . . Tsar ! 

19 



Eudoxia. There is no Tsar but Peter. 

\She tries to close window. IGNATIEFF pre- 
vents her. 

Ignat. \Holdi7tg EuDOXiA,] Choose, Alexis, 
choose ! 

Eudoxia. No Tsar but Peter ! There is no Tsar 
but Peter. 

Ignat. Children, your Tsar hears you ! 

\A loud shout. 
Alexis. \Suddenly coining out of his reverie7\ The 
suffering of the people has found voice. \Moves up 
stage.l Their cries run through my blood like fire ! 

Eudoxia. [Detaining him.'] Don't let them see 
you ! Don't let them see you ! 

Alexis. They stretch out their lacerated hands ! 

Eudoxia. All is lost ! 

Ignat. The Tsar will show himself! 

[A loud shout. In rush a crowd of Nobles, 
with Lapoukhine, Zabouroff and 
KiKlNE at their head. 

Lapouk., ) 

y r . \ My liege — -our Tsar — our Tsar ! 

\All throw themselves on their knees. Bells 
heard ringing. 

Alexis. Oh, God ! Oh, God ! I am the Tsar ! 
\Giving KiKlNE a ring.] To Euphrosine, quick ! 
Let her know ! 

Lapouk. \To another Boyar.] Who is Euphrosine ? 

Alexis. Euphrosine is your Empress. 

[Exit KiKINE. 

Ignat. The people hunger for a sight of you ! 

Lapouk. On to the balcony ! I on one side — you, 
sister, on the other ! 

Eudoxia. No, no ! No Tsar but Peter ! 



Lapouk. Sister ! 

Ignat. Stand aside ! 

Eudoxia. Wretches ! Wretches ! 

Lapouk. The Tsar will show himself ! 

[Alexis moves towards window ; suddenly 
steps back. 

Alexis. The city is on fire ! 

Zab. \_Gleefully.'\ The German suburb ! 

Alexis. Lives will be lost ! 

Zab. German lives ! 

Alexis. Put out the flames ! \A terrific explosion. 

Zab. Your father's magazines. 

Ignat. The reign of Antichrist is ended. 

Enter a throng of distracted foreigners, shouting : 
" Save us, save us our husbands' lives ! — our 
children's lives I " Shots are heard in the streets. 

Alexis. By St. Vladimir, I will ! There must be no 
bloodshed. 

Zab. Can you prevent it? \Other fugitives arrive. 

Alexis. There must be no bloodshed. Second me, 
gentlemen. Go out and put a stop to it. \Fugitives 
continue to clamour ; Russians don't budge."] Do you 
not hear me ? I am your Tsar ! See these poor 
people ? By Heaven, they shall not harm you ! Are 
your hearts of stone ? Does no one stir ? Am I 
your Tsar ? Then to my people — they will hear their 
Tsar. [ The bells stop ringing. A confused noise arises 
from below.] The people are dispersing. 

[All rush up round ALEXIS. Distant mar- 
tial music. The hubbub ceases. All fall 
apart so as to disclose ALEXIS. 

What is it ? What sound is that ? 

[Music nearer and nearer. 

21 



Eudoxia. My wretched son, read it on every face ; 
it is your father. 
Alexis. My father ? 

[Menshikoff, Tolstoi, Dolgorouki, and 
a party of Soldiers rush in. 

Menshik. Sentries at all the doors. Let no one 
pass but the Regent, \praws his sword^ We, faith- 
ful servants, go to join our master. Peter the Great, 
the father of his country ! 

\Thecry is taken up. Exeunt Menshikoff, 
Tolstoi, etc. Music grows louder and 
louder. 

Lapouk. For us the scaffold ! 

Eudoxia. \To Alexis.] Son, go before his anger! 
turn aside his wrath ! 

Alexis. \^Frenziedly^ Ye all have ruined me! — 
ruined me ! \_RHshes out wildly^ Curses on ye all ! 

Eudoxia. [^Followiiig^ Alexis ! 

Soldiers. [^Crossing bayonets.'] None but the Re- 
gent ! 

[^Several wild- looking Soldiers form in line 
along parapet. 

Eudoxia. My poor, poor boy ! 

Lapouk. Boyars ! shall we not hide this most un- 
happy lady amongst ourselves ? [Nobles /"«// apart. \ 
Come, sister ! 

Eudoxia. No, I will face him. 

Lapouk. You will only increase his fury ! [EU- 
DOXIA shakes head.] This way shall you better serve 
Alexis. 

Eudoxia. Ay, so I do I [ Goes in amongst Boyars. 

Lapouk. Close up, gentlemen ! be stout of heart. 

[Soldiers present arms. 



Enter Peter the Great, followed by Menshikoff, 
Tolstoi, Dolgorouki, Apraxin, Roumiant- 
ZOFF, etc. Peter stands still., livid and shaking 
with suppressed passion. Dead silence. 

Mejishik. [Dropping down to beside PETER.] My 
lord 

Peter. [Springing upon Menshikoff and forcing 
him on to his knees. He is so beside himself with fury 
that he transposes the sounds of his words ^ My re- 
inforcements — where were they ? Where was my 
ammunition ? Dog ! 

[Peter threatens Menshikoff with his sword. 

Dolgor. [Staying Feter' s arm.^ What will your 
history say of this ? Kill me ! 

Peter. [Who was on the point of turning his sword 
against DoLGOROUKi, thinks better of it and breaks 
sword over knee ^ Defeat! I am defeated ! Defeat — 
never till now! Disaster — never till now! I am de- 
feated ! Chuckle over it — laugh at it in your beards I 
I'll lop you and I'll mangle you ! You've wrenched 
me, I'll make you writhe ! Yet what shall that 
make up to me ? Oh, my work — my work ! 
Would you see me weep ? Oh, God ! oh, God ! 
had it pleased you to tear away my limbs — only my 
work — my work — my work ! [Sinks into chair.'] And 
this ! [Bafiging hand on table so as to make plates a^id 
goblets jump ^ Where were my provisions ? Come, my 
good children, sit down, eat and drink. [Soldiers 
seem half afraid to obey.] Sit down ! — Obey me ! 
[Soldiers fall to.] Where is Alexis, my son, my 
Regent — my Regent — eh? Why's he not here? 
Where is he ? Well ? Well ? 

Tolstoi. He was here a moment ago, but — does 
anyone know ? 

4 23 



Peter. \Walking up afzd down striki?ig his fore- 
head.'] Azoff ! — Azoff ! — Lost, lost Azoff ! 

Tolstoi. [After having inquired of bystanders.] They 
say that, at the news of your unexpected return, he 
fled out of the room in a state of some alarm. 

Peter. [ To himself] Shame ! Shame ! Of some 
alarm ! There's mighty much to be alarmed at, I can 
tell you ; and for all — yes, all of you, all of you — 
though less for him, for he's still young and green, 
than for you well-seasoned, elderly rascals ! Ah, Tol- 
stoi ! fetch me the Regent ! — Tolstoi, we fought 
there side by side ! 

Tolstoi. Where, my lord ? 

Peter. Tolstoi, at Azoff! 

Tolstoi. Ah, glorious Azoff! Yes, we stood there 
in the breach, ready for all comers ! 

Peter. Don't, Tolstoi, don't ! 

Tolstoi. We phed the bayonet all day — for you 
remember our ammunition had run out — and the 
spade all night ! 

Peter. Tolstoi, for God's sake wait ! wait while I 
tell you ! You'll grieve for it, Tolstoi. Tolstoi, Azoff 
is to be dismantled ! 

Tolstoi. Oh? 

\_Catches hold of Peter almost roughly. 

Peter. Ay, strike me! — and ceded to the Turks ! 
[Tolstoi strikes Peter in the chest.] Thank God ! 
he struck me for it ! Did you all see him strike 
me ? My brother, my brother ! [Falls on TOLSTOl'S 
neck, uttering inarticulate cries.] Azoff! Azoff! 
Azoff! 

Tolstoi. Bear up, my lord. 

Peter. I am trying ! [Quite calm.] For Azoff 
was my first conquest ! All those fine things we 
built with our own hands: the redoubts, the mole, 

24 



half a verst in length, there's not a finer anywhere ; 
the pier, just nearly finished — all to be pulled to 
pieces by the very hands that built them ! It takes 
the soul out of me ! I've no heart to go on ! When 
I was at Portsmouth, in England, I have seen chil- 
dren digging with wooden spades, throwing up 
mounds and parapets of sand, and with their souls 
in their work, too, I can tell you ; up comes the tide, 
and sweeps it all flat, flat — like Azoff. Then say 
I've lost a toy ; let's look at it that way : they've 
smashed my toy and I'm blubbering ! Here's the 
rough draft ; draw out a formal treaty ! Take it 
away and phraseologise it. 

[Eji;i^ Tolstoi, R. Peter buries his head in 
his hands. An Officer has entei^ed mean- 
while and spoken to Menshikoff. 

Menshik. Riga — taken ! [DOLGOROUKI, APRAXIN, 
etc., gather round.'] Shall I tell him ? 

Dolgor. Tell him ! Yes, tell him at once ! 

Menshik. My lord — [PETER looks up] — I felicitate 
you on the addition to your empire of the town of Riga. 

Peter. Riga is ours! \To Soldiers.] Children, 
Riga is ours! A seaport, too! Riga for Azofi"! 
[Soldiers get up from table cheering^ Who took it ? 

Menshik. Sheremetieff. 

Peter. God bless him. Here, take him this ! \Takes 
handfiils of money out of his pocket, which he puts into 
Menshikoff's /z^;z^.y.] And this for yourself \^Em- 
braces Menshikoff.] Oft" to Livonia. I'll follow 
at your heels ! 

Menshik. What shall I do when I 

Peter. What do ? Why, God, man ! press, push, 
drive home our advantage ! Tell Sheremetieff from 
me, of we two he 's the better general. He has 

25 



won Riga — I have lost Azoff ! [Exit Menshikoff. 
Mansouroff gives a loud snort. Peter turns round. 
Peter sees Mansouroff lying on divan, drags him up 
from, it, holds him out at arm's length and contemplates 
him scornfully^ Image ! Image of old Russia ! Rus- 
sia — till me ! [All laugh. 

Mansour. \_Blinkifig.'] Peter . . . details, sir, 
details ! 

Peter. Slothful ! sluggish ! sottish ! and seditious ! 
{Throws Mansouroff off, who falls on the floor.'] 
Where's my son ? 

Dolgor. They've gone back to look for him ! 

Peter. Yes, of course they've gone to look for him ! 
\_Walki7tg up and down in front of terrified Boyars.] 
Meantime let's take an inventory of incompe- 
tence and rank sedition ! Ay ! ay ! \_Pulli7tg one 
by the beard.] Beards and gowns outside, and, as 
sure as kernel is nut, hostility to me underneath ! 
Prince Lapoukhine, my good ex-brother-in-law, stili 
at it, eh, old boy ? Damn all you Lapoukhines ! 
{Tapping his head.] It'll have to come off this time, 
indeed it will ! Have you been tampering with my 
son ? But it's your last chance, for in future my 
hand is on him ! devoted to me, vowed to my work ! 
Why do you huddle so ? {Dragging them apart.] 
Let's know you all, and once for all ! Apart, I say ! 
[Eudoxia advances through Boyars. 

Eudoxia. Seek, my lord, no further ! 

Peter. {For some time unable to speak.] If I had 
been taken prisoner ! Oh, my God ! if I had been 

taken prisoner, — what a conspir God! — I can 

feel my hair turning grey on my head ! 

Enter Apraxin. 
Well? 

Apraxin. The Tsarevitch is coming ! 
26 



Peter. In good time. Now we shall — Madam ! 
No, we'll wait. [ Walks up and down. Silence. To 
himself.'] A giant plot — a giant plot! \Alo2id.'\ 
Where is he ? Why isn't he with you ? 

Apraxin. We found him, my lord, in bed. 

Peter. In bed ? But they said just now he was 
here. 

Apraxin. His attack had come upon him sud- 
denly, for when we had assured him of our good 
intentions \Smiles. 

Peter. Well? Well? 

Apraxin. He got out of bed with all his clothes 
on. 

Peter. Did he ? 

Apraxin. Yes, and 

Peter. That's enough ! You're trying to set me 
against him ! 

Apraxin. My lord 

Peter. Stand back ! \_A cough heard off. 

Apraxin. That's the Tsarevitch ! 

Peter. What, the man with the cough ? Is that 
what you know him by ? What does he cough for ? 
Sickly, is he — or what ? 

\The 'SioXd^^xs present arms. 

\_Enter ALEXIS. He stands rooted to the spot.] 

Aha ! ' [Points at EUDOXIA, then at Alexis, then at 
himself^ Did you do this ? 

Endoxia. No ! 

Peter. Be silent, madam ! [Alexis kneels and 
takes his father's hand to kiss^ Get up ! None of 
that ! I know the worth of that knee-scraping, 
hand-kissing business ! \Clicks fingers^ And I 
know what that conceals. Forms, customs, old 

27 



observances — what I've warred against these twenty 
years ! Father and son ! Good God ! that's close 
enough. Let's come to the root of the matter. Mind 
you, I'm not angry with you ; but do you still persist 
in loving your mother ? 

Eudoxia. Were that so wonderful ? 

Peter. Wonderful ! It were stupendous. 

Eudoxia. What, for a son to love his mother ? 

Peter. No, for a Tsarevitch to love the Tsar, his fa- 
ther's, declared, stigmatized enemy. 

Eudoxia. I came only to tell our son to be a good 
son to you. 

Peter. That I believe you, madam. A likely 
story. \Cries without of ' Long live the Empress!'' 
Peter makes a movetnent of joy.'] Ha ! Do you hear 
that? 

Eudoxia. Indeed, against my will. 

Peter. I think it is, indeed, " against her will." 
She thinks it's her. You think it's you. You an 
Empress ; you'd make a wife for a knock-knee'd 
sacristan. 

Alexis. I can't bear it. 

Peter. [At window.'] Come on, Kate, come along. 

Cath. [Without.] I'm coming, I'm coming — if 
there's anything left of me. [Enter CATHERINE in a 
travel-stained, half -military get-up.] I'm positively 

dripping. Give me something to drink, or 

[Starts at seeing EUDOXIA. 

Peter. There's your Empress for you ! Look at her. 
Isn't she splendid ? Isn't she just the thing for an 
Emperor's wife ? Peter's rough-and-tumble maid-of- 
all-work. [CATHERINE whispers to Peter.] Eh ? 
Consider her? [Looking towards EUDOXIA.] Let 
her learn; and you, Alexis, too; and all of you. 
Do you know what ? — She saved me from imprison- 

28 



ment — ay ! [CATHERINE /z^^j her hand over Peter's 
mouthy You get up here ! \_Makes Catherine 
stand on a chair.'\ And all you on your knees before 
her ! When everything had failed — stop there ! — 
she thought of a way to save us all. She went 
through the army — ashamed of it, are you? — 
collected all the gold and jewels in the camp — stop 
up there ! — bribed the 

Enter ToLSTOl, touches Peter's arm. Peter turns. 

Tolstoi. The treaty ! [Catherine gets off chair. 

Peter. \_Looking over treaty^ Ah, shame ! It's all 
smudged and wet. What ? 

Tolstoi. My lord, I — I couldn't — I couldn't ! 

Peter. He wept over it ! Ah ! this great honourable 
man — he couldn't draw out this treaty without — 
Look at these marks ! They came out of his eyes, 
out of his heart ! This never goes to the Turks ! 
Tolstoi, make another copy ! Yes. \Feels in pockets 
for money, finds none.'\ No ! But I '11 not forget. 
Great soul ! [ToLSTOl moves up stage."] He did ; 
he wept over it ! 

Tolstoi. [/« answer to a question from DoLGOROUKl.] 
They didn't come out of my eyes ! 

\_Exit Tolstoi. 

Peter. \Looking round him.] H'm ! Dolgorouki, 
you will convey Sister Eudoxia to her convent. 
Apraxin, put them [pointing to crowd of Nobles] 
to the question. 

\_A groan goes up from Nobles ; some fall on 
their knees in mute appeal. 

Cath. [71? Apraxin.] Wait! [Apraxin ^^wz^rj-.] 
Wait, I say! \To Nobles.] Take courage! 

29 



[EUDOXIA Stretches her arms out to ALEXIS ; 
he seems afraid for a moment, then rushes 
into them. 

Alexis. My mother ! 

[Peter crosses, separates Alexis and Eu- 

DOXIA. 

Peter. She ceased to be your mother when she 
ceased to be my wife ! 

Cath. Peter, don't be a brute ! 
Eudoxia. Husband, be patient with our son. 
Cath. Say something kind to her. What a pig 
you are ! 

[Eudoxia totters, but recovers herself to check 
Alexis, who has made a movement to- 
wards her. She goes towards door; she 
turns round, makes the sign of the cross 
several times and silently prays for 
Alexis. 

Cath. {Very timidly^ Madam, if I — [EUDOXIA 
draws herself up\ — I know, if you choose, you have 
the right to scorn me. 

Eudoxia. \_Relentitig, half speaking to herself] 
Catherine — Catherine ! 

Cath. But I respect you, and I honour you, and I 
feel for you. 

Eudoxia. Will you — you have influence over my 
husb — over Peter — you seem kind — will you watch 
over my son ? 

Cath. [ Taking hand, much overcome^ Madam ! 
madam ! I promise you, I swear to you ! 

Eudoxia. Even though you should have children 
of your own ? 

Cath. Even before them ! 

30 



Eudoxia. Swear it to me ! [Catherine crosses 
herself before images^ You have sworn, remember! 
Cath. I shan't forget ! 
Eudoxia. Ah ! you're a good woman ! 
Cath, I'm a woman ! 
Eudoxia. Heaven bless you ! Remember ! 

\^Exit Eudoxia. 

[Catherine gets over to Alexis, shakes his 
right hand with her left. Peter is look- 
ing over a map, muttering and chuckling 
to himself. He looks round suddenly. 

Peter. [71? Apraxin.] Well? 

Apraxin. Her Majesty told me to wait. 

Peter. Wait ! What for ? 

Cath. For your pardon. 

Peter. [Adout to break out.'\ How — you — well, 

I'm 

[Catherine holds her finger up at Peter. 

Boyars. Mercy, Father Tsar, mercy ! 
Cath. Of course he'll be merciful ! Can't you see 
it in his sunny countenance ? 

[Peter smiles against his will. 

Peter. It's no good my giving orders ! I'd better 
abdicate. 

Cath. Come, you've been defeated once ! 

Peter. And, by making sure of them, I'll make 
sure of not being defeated a second time. 

Cath. There ! He pardons you. 

Peter. I say, Kate, come now. 

Cath. You said you'd make sure you weren't 
defeated again ! 

Peter. Believe me, you'd better stop it. 

5 31 



Cath. No, I won't, just because I don't want to 
see you defeated again. I want to see the white 
angel of mercy, civilized and European, overcome 
the black devil of Russian barbarity in you. Try 
for once and behave like a civilized being. 

[Peter bursts out laughing. 

I declare you're the Russianest of the lot ! 

Peter. You're right, Kate. I've reformed others, 
but I can't reform myself 

Cath. Then they're forgiven ? 

Peter. No ! 

Cath. You confess yourself I saved you, and you 
refuse my very first request ! 

Peter. Ah, sorceress ! Well ! [ Waves hand."] No, 

— I have it ! — Yes ! Now listen to me, all of you ! 

— Catherine, be silent! \^To Boyars.] You, with 
terror! [7b Officers.] You, I hope, with joy. 
No, I'll not lop away amongst the branches any 
longer — I'll strike at the very root of all this matter. 
Not you will I punish this time, but thou. Holy 
Mother Moscow — Holy step-mother Moscow! — 
white-walled, many-domed mother of ignorance ! 
ay, and wet-nurse of sedition ! Thou Eudoxia 
amongst my cities. She was against me, and I 
divorced her ! Thou art against me, and I divorce 
you. Russia, I decapitate you. Come here! \^lhey 
gather round.'] My new capital must be a Catherine 

— one after my own heart. Where shall I find 
such a one ? Where did I find her ? In conquered 
territory. So my capital. What was she when I 
found her ? 

Cath. Oh, Peter ! Peter ! 

Peter. Well, never mind about that. What was 
my capital before I found it ? A swamp ! — [APRAXIN 

32 



gives a groan.'] Thank you ! — It is to be called Pe- 
tersburg, and it is to be situated here ! It shall be 
your punishment to have to build and deck out your 
Holy Mother Moscow's supercessor. \_To Apraxin, 
who, with others, is examining map in Peter's hand.] 
Well? 

[Apraxin is fogging about on map. 

There ! Can't you see ? — No, not there ! — There ! 

Apraxin. There ? 

Peter. Yes, yes, there ! 

Apraxin. Oh ? 

Peter. Well? 

Apraxin. Isn't it in the sea ? 

Peter. [^Mimicking.'] No, it's not in the sea; it's 
under water, if you mean that. [Apraxin looks at 
Peter in blank astonishment.] Have you ever heard 
of a city being built on piles ? 

Apraxin. Oh, I see! An excellent idea! You 
first build the site, and then build the city on top of 
the site, and 

Peter. {Taking him by the ear.] Yes, my friend, 
you have just caught the hang of it ! We will all 
start for Petersburg to-night ! Roumiantzofif, stop 
out there ! I shall want you ! [ROUMIANTZOFF 
goes out on to balco7iy. Raising hat to Officers.] 
Gentlemen ! \_Putting it on and addressing Boyars.] 
Traitors ! \Exeunt all except Peter, Catherine 
and Alexis. Peter walks up and down, stops and 
contemplates Alexis from time to time.] I've found 
my wife, and I've found my capital, now I've to find 
— or rather to fashion, for he's ready found for me — 
my son-successor. 

\_Hand on Alexis's shoulder. Catherine 
plucks Peter by the sleeve. 



Cath. Be gentle with Alexis. 

Peter. I know how to deal with him ! 

{Exit Catherine. 

Tolstoi has entered. 

Tolstoi. {Handing it to PETER.] The treaty ! 
[Peter gives a groan.'\ I thought, in case of refer- 
ence — these are the ukases promulgated during your 
absence. [Alexis makes a movement of anxiety. 

Peter. [T^ ALEXIS.] Never fear ! [T^? ToLSTOI.] 
I will judge my son {tears nkases'\ not by what he has 
put his hand to, but by what is in his head. 

Tolstoi. {Giving a second bundle.'] Which is here. 
These were only wanting the Regent's signature. 

Peter. {Tearing them.'] I will judge my son, not by 
what is in his head, but by what he has put his 
hand to. 

Tolstoi. Might I call your Majesty's attention ? 

Peter. Stand back! {To Alexis.] I will not 
judge you at all. My son! {Takes Alexis in his 
arms and kisses him.] I have no right to judge you ! 
I have neglected you shamefully ! {To ToLSTOl.] 
Go ! {Exit Tolstoi.] I have neglected you 
shamefully, but from to-day I mean to take you in 
hand. Your age ? 

Alexis. What? 

Peter. What is your age ? 

Alexis. Twenty- six — seven. 

Peter. Which is it ? Surely you 

Alexis. Twenty-seven. 

Peter. Good. Nothing is inveterate at twenty- 
seven. And — er — throw it away — the bit of paper. 
Don't fiddle about with things when you've done 
with them — throw them away. {Scratches his fore- 
head.] What do you feel an inclination for ? 

34 



Alexis. Oh ! — er — I 



Peter. Take your time. \Turn5 to table.'] Take 
your time ! [Writes on slzp.~\ Roumiantzoff! [Rou- 
MIANTZOFF enters from balcony^ Fetch me these 
— do you see? " Grisard on Fortification" and 
" Miiller's Ship-building " — from the Hbrary. \Exit 
Roumiantzoff.] Dehberation's no bad quaHty. 
Well — er — what was it I asked you ? What was 
it I asked you ? I say, don't make me 

Alexis. I — I don't remember what. 

Peter. \_Getting migry, but restrains himself !\ Never 
mind — never mind. Yes, don't look so obliquely.' 
That's better. Yes. Sprechen sie deutsch ? 

Alexis. Ein wenig. 

Peter. Good. Et frangais ? 

Alexis. Aussi, mon pere. 

Peter. Yes, I remember. What do you like best, 
military matters or naval, or administrative, or 
what ? 

Alexis. Oh, I — I — I think 

Peter. No, no ; one doesn't think about those sort 
of things. They drive one along. Are you eager, 
curious, energetic ? 

Alexis. Yes. 

Peter. You don't look it ; you look just — er — er — 
anxious. I wish he'd speak ! I do wish he'd speak ! 
You may, if you like — I must be patient. I mean 
I'm not your schoolmaster, I'm your father. Open 
your heart to me — no, not a word ! I have been 
through a terrible time these last few days. Oh, 
God, what I suffered that night, and all on account 
of you ! I'll tell you. There's the plan. Oh, how 
I bungled ! Do you see? — Turks, Turks, Turks! 
[Alexis heaves a deep sigh.] What's the matter 
with the boy ? Eh ? Well, we were reduced to a 

35 



handful; we had been fighting for three days on 
half-rations, mark you ; we had left, two rounds of 
ammunition apiece. With dayhght, either annihi- 
lation or surrender. There I sat in my tent, like 
this, trying, trying to think, with the infernal 
Turkish music dinning in my ears — for they were 
right close up to us — the whole night through; 
and at last their music seemed to form itself 
into a sort of jargon nothing would drive out 
of my head — beaten, beaten back ! Where's the 
great man now ? Beaten, beaten back ! Where's 
the great man now ? Oh, why the devil don't 

you ? No, I don't mean that, only — aren't 

you stirred ? 

Alexis. Yes, father, yes. [PETER moves about a bit. 

Peter. Where was I ? Ah, yes — like this. Trying 
to think, trying to think ! And at last I did think, I 
thought of the future, I thought of you — you are 
my future. I thought how little I really knew of 
you, how little I had done to fit you to succeed 
me, and at the thought of all you meant to me, 
and of the danger threatening Russia, — well, have 
you ever felt your heart sink, your lungs jump into 
your throat, and your stomach disappear altogether ? 
That's how I felt. Are you listening to me ? What 
were my last words ? [ALEXIS does not know^ But 
you must listen to me. This is serious — deadly 

earnest. But what am I ? Now, be patient — 

patient. Do you admire me ? Do I interest you ? 
Do you sympathise with me ? 

Alexis. You're my father ! 

Peter. No reason ! No reason at all ! You 
mustn't think I'm going to love you because you're 
my son ! That's all very well for common people, 
but that is no law for emperors ! Emperors don't 

36 



have sons ; they have successors ! Don't think 
I'm rough! My dear boy. [PETER puts hand on 
Ai.Y.xl'S,' shojilder. A1.Y.XIS appears afraid. "[ You're 
afraid of me ! Ha, ha, ha ! You thought I was 
going to strike you ! Damn them ! they have made 
me out a sort of ogre ! — who'd eat up my own chil- 
dren, eh? But I'm not; I'm not! I'm a splendid 
chap in reality, if you'll only 

Enter TOLSTOI. 

What do you want ! 

Tolstoi. There's a strange young woman outside, 

Alexis. \_Aside.'] Euphrosine ! 
Tolstoi. Insists on wanting to see someone she 
calls "Tsar Alexis." 

Alexis. [Aside.'] Euphrosine ! Oh ! 

Peter. Tell her my father's dead 1 Why do you 
trouble me with 

Tolstoi. Only I fancied, and, by his looks — er — 
that she meant the Tsarevitch ; and he, perhaps 

Peter. Do you know anything of this ? 

Alexis. No. 

Peter. You don't ? 

Alexis. No. 

Peter. Show the lady up. 

Alexis. Oh, Heaven ! \Exit TOLSTOI. 

Peter. That's the cleverest diplomatist, the cun- 
ningest liar in my service. Wily as a fox, with the 

scent of a bloodhound and a fidelity ! Never lies 

to me, never deceives me. Over forty, he was, when 
I took him in hand — thirteen years' difference — and 
as prejudiced as the worst of them. 

Alexis. [Aside?] She'll be here ! She'll be here 1 

Peter. But I soon made him slough — as I'll make 
you slough. And once you shed your old skin, 

37 



hide it away in some thicket or other, and forget, as 
I will, that you ever went counter — against is' too 
strong — to me. 

Alexis. I know, father — forgive me ! I have done 
wrong ; I was badly advised. 

Peter. Why the — what the ! — Oh, God, won't he 
let it drop ? Didn't I tear it all up ? I hate all ex- 
cusers and exculpatisers ! As if there wasn't an excuse, 
a reason, for everything in earth, air, sea, sky, fire, 
water, heaven, hell and hedgerow. I care only about 
results. Oh! \Controlling himself with difficulty and 
looking out of window^ Trying! trying! very trying! 

Alexis. Here she comes ! Ah, Euphrosine ! Ah ! 

[EuPHROSlNE/^/j head in at door and says : 
''Peep-bo!'' Alexis signs to her to be 
quiet. Peter turns round. EUPHROSINE 
collapses against door. TOLSTOI enters, 
pushing door and EUPHROSINE leaning 
against it. 

Peter. Peep-bo ! [EUPHROSINE looks scared ; then 
blubbers, then rushes across to Alexis.] Oh, oh ! so 
that's the little mystery ? Aren't we all Tsars for 
the women who love us ? \To TOLSTOI.] Even you, 
I daresay. But you shouldn't have told me a lie 
about her. Don't, don't be a liar. I've nothing 
against you amusing yourself, that's only natural ; 
and, at your age, I shouldn't like to see it otherwise. 
But now we've more important matters in hand, 
so bid her good-bye. \_Taki7tg her by the chin. She 
stniles at him coquettishly.~\ Hum ! hum ! Give him 
a good kiss and a squeeze whilst we look the other 
way. \^Goes up with TOLSTOI. 

Euph. But what was it about his being taken pris- 
oner, and you made Tsar ? 

38 



Alexis. 'Sh ! All false — all false — my love. 

Euph. I suppose you'll be wanting your ring back ? 

[ Taking off ring. 

Alexis. Would you like to keep it ? 

Euph. Well, it's a very pretty one. 

Alexis. Keep it, darling ; keep it. 

Euph. Have you asked him to let me marry you ? 

Alexis. Why ; can you be more to me than you 
are ? 

Peter. \_7zirning.'\ That's not the way, man. 

\_Rumbling of cannon and shouts of teamsters in street^ 

I shall have to show you. [ToLSTOI speaks to Peter.] 

Ah ! These are my sweethearts — my splendid cannon. 

\_Goes on to balcony with ToLSTOl. 

Alexis. You'll wait for me outside ? 

Peter. The thirty-pounder. There's a mouth to 
kiss, for you. 

Alexis. Good-bye, my darling ! 

Euph. I '11 wait outside. 

Peter. Leave the girl, lad, and come and see your 
father's harem ! Aren't they splendid ? 

Alexis. \JPollowing her up^ My love ! — my lovely 
one ! 

Euph. Mind you ask — about the marriage. 

\^Exit EUPHROSINE. 

Peter. Quick, or you '11 miss them ! Alexis, quick ! 
Here's old grandmother Poltava ! [ Claps his hands for 
excitement^ Little fool! Get out — \A shriek from 
outside. Alexis recoils from, window, covers face with 
hands. To ToLSTOI.] Cast her with my own hands ! 
\To men outside^ Drive on ! Drive on ! Alexis ! — 
{Turns to Alexis.] What are you flinching at? 
What is the matter ? What is it ? 

Alexis. The child — the child ! Is it killed ? 

6 39 



Peter. Bless you, no ! Only a bit smashed. \Com- 
i7ig back into rooin^ Why, you're as white — here, 
take some of this ! \_Pours brandy out. 

Alexis. But the child — I can hear him groaning — 
what are you going to do for him ? 

Peter. He's maimed for life, I should say ; and I 
have no use for cripples. 

Alexis. But you're not going to leave him there ? 

Peter. He'll drag himself off — he's trying to now. 
Brave little chap ! He's not a squealer ! 

Alexis. But this is hideous! You wouldn't treat 
a dog so, father ! 

Peter. Go and see to him yourself, if you're so 

Alexis. No, no ! I couldn't ! 

Enter RouMiANTZOFF, gives two books to Peter and 
goes out 071 to balcony again. 

Peter. Then be silent ! Now I want you 



Alexis. It's no use — it's horrible! I can't think 
of anything ! Something must be done. 
Peter. He's coming out at last ! 
Alexis. \_Calling^ Someone ! Anyone ! 

[ROUMIANTZOFF appears. 

Peter. All in the wrong direction. 

Alexis. [ To ROUMIANTZOFF.] Take that boy to 
the hospital. 

Roitm. What boy ? 

Alexis. That was run over. 

Roum. He's dead. 

Alexis. I can hear him groaning. 

Peter. [7^ TOLSTOI.] All wrong ! All wrong ! 

Roum. I tell you he's dead ! 

Peter. Dead ! Oh, take him then to the dissect- 
ing school ! Expect me there in half-an-hour. 

40 



Found some use for him at last ! [ROUMIANTZOFF 
is going.'] Give the order, but don't go yourself, for I 
want you. 

[^Exit ROUMIANTZOFF. Alexis is Slink in 
a chair. 

Alexis. I can hear him groaning, I can hear him 
groaning ! 

[Tolstoi and Peter stand contemplating 
Alexis. 

Peter. Tolstoi, don't shrug and smile like that — 

or I'll . Get my anatomical instruments — they're 

in the next room. \Exit Tolstoi.] Alexis, you 
are all you ought not to be. But a few battle- 
fields will soon knock this sort of nonsense out of 
you ; stale bread and dirty water ; a roof of canvas 
and a bed of planks ; bullets humming round your 
frost-bitten ears, and newly-spilled smoking blood 
up to your ankles ; and you'll soon become a great 
man ! In six months I shall myself examine you in 
these two books. So work at them, especially the 
diagrams ! Colonel ! \Enter ROUMIANTZOFF.] Seen 
to that ? 

Roiim. Yes. 

Peter. Alexis, you're a lieutenant in the Preobra- 
jenski Regiment. \_Pointing to ROUMIANTZOFF.] 
This is your Colonel ! Stand up ! [Alexis rises.] 
Well up ! [Peter takes Alexis by the shoulders^ 
That's what he wants — eh ? 

Roum. Yes, that's what he wants. 

Peter. Good height, though! [ROUMIANTZOFF 
feels Alexis' muscle ; Peter does same.] We'll soon 
give him that ! Mind, Colonel, I've chosen you be- 
cause of your stringency; you must treat him just 
like all the others — harsher, if anything ! It's a 
hard task we've got before us. [ToLSTOl has returned 

41 



with instruments P^ The material is very raw. Let 
us not deceive ourselves. But I hope my boy has 
plenty of good-will ; so, Alexis, my son, good-bye ! 

\_Going. 

Alexis. Father ! 

Peter. [^Stopping.'] I attend ! 

Alexis. Father, can't I stay by you ? 

Peter. No. I'm a colonel, you're a lieutenant. 
You must work your way up to 7ne, as I worked my 
way up to him. 

Alexis. But, father, I — I want to get to know you. 

Peter. To get to know me ! I'm just what you 
see me now ; neither more nor less. 

Alexis. Yes, but to — to love you. 

Peter. Here I am, love me ! 

Alexis. But you don't seem to understand, father. 

Peter. I'm trying — I'm trying ! 

Alexis. If we're always apart, how can I get to 
know you and to love you ? 

Peter. But let's have this out ! " To know me 
and to love me!" You know me — you 've heard 
me. Don't you love me ? 

Alexis. Father, I hardly know you ! \_Pause. 

Peter. But there's not such a devil of a lot to 
know about me, after all. Love Russia and you 
love me ! That's simple ! [Silence. 

Alexis. But we aren't like father and son ! 

Peter. But we will be. Look here, do you mean 
by loving, pottering around one another and making 
one another birthday presents, and that sort of thing ? 
Because, if so, I've no time for that. 

Alexis. No, no; don't you see, father 

Peter. Oh, don't give me up ! 

Alexis. If only we were together, we should 
gradually get to 

42 



Peter. I've no time for gradual processes. 

Alexis. But to love one another — for ourselves — 
as we are. 

Peter. I don't love you as you are ; I don't love 
you as you are. If I'm to love you, or anybody or 
anything, I must love them, not as they are, but as 
I have made them to be. I think that's clear. 

[ Going off. 

Quick Curtain. 



43 



ACT II. 

\^Three months are supposed to have elapsed?^ 

Scene. — Petersburg. Autumn. Dusk. Rain and 
wind. A large, low-ceilinged log-built room in 
Alexis' (so-called) Palace. Doors centre, right 
and left. In middle of room a large table. A 
smaller table at back, with two books of Act /., 
and a roll of dress material on it. Candles lighted 
and unlighted. A couch. Much litter. The rain 
comes through the roof. 

[Tolstoi and Dolgorouki in uniform, 
Mansouroff and Zabouroff in tatters, 
discovered at large table, writing. In 
front of Tolstoi and Dolgorouki lie 
their swords and pistols. Scratching of 
pens. Distant firing. A drop of rain 
falls 071 to Tolstoi's paper ; utters an 
ejaculation, shifts paper ; goes on writijig. 
Mansouroff' s head falls on to a^nn. 
Firing continued. Tolstoi and Dol- 
gorouki exchange glajices. TOLSTOI 
points at MANSOUROFF with pen. DOL- 
GOROUKI jogs Mansouroff, who picks 
tip pen and goes on writing. Zabouroff 
comes to a standstill from sheer exhaus- 
tion. Another drop falls on /^ ToLSTOl'S 
paper. 

Enter APRAXIN, holding his wrist ; sees piece of 
dress material on table back ; tears a strip off and 
bandages arm with it. 

Apraxin. Petersburg is a mistake. 

44 



Tolstoi. Hallo ! Have you driven the Swedes off ? 

Apraxin. For the present. 

Dolgor. You're wounded ? 

Apraxin. Scratched. It's the weather we've got to 
fear now. And I know no way of putting down a 
west wind ; powder and shot won't do it. I tell you 
we're literally taken between the devil and the deep 
sea. 

Tolstoi. Who stands for the devil ? Peter ? 

Apraxiji. No, the Swedes stand for the devil. 

Dolgor. Though Peter's a devil too — a devil to 
work. 

Tolstoi. {^Shaking Mansouroff.] Here, details ! 
\To DOLGOROUKI.] Look at your man! [DoLGO- 
ROUKI shakes Zabouroff.] Fine clerks, certainly. 

Mansour. \_Trying to write. '\ I can't .... I can't 
.... my fingers .... 

[Tolstoi takes paper on which Mansou- 
roff had been writing. 

Apraxin. The wind is rising. Petersburg is a 
mistake. 

Tolstoi. \Passing paper on to DOLGOROUKI.] Look 
at that. [DOLGOROUKI runs eye over paper and laughs^ 
Higher up! 

Dolgor. \Reading^ To transfer two hundred only 
sons, crushed up and down, to Peter's — what's this ? 

Tolstoi. Peter's hell. 

Dolgor. Oh, Pd like him to see that. 

Tolstoi. \Pntting paper on a pile of suchi\ He shall. 

Dolgor. No, poor wretch, pity him. 

Apraxin. [At window.'] A damnable mistake. 

[DOLGOROUKI has just finished writing a 
document, which he hands to TOLSTOI, who 
places it on pile as before. 

Dolgor. That, too ? 

45 



Tolstoi. That, too, 

Dolgor. You'll destroy the poor fellow. 

Tolstoi. Do you think I shall ? 

Dolgor. Tolstoi, you're hard on Alexis. 

Tolstoi. Am I ? {Pause. 

Apraxin. A terrible mistake. 

[Mansouroff «;e^ZABOUROFF's heads have 
sunk again. 

7c'/y/^2. Let them be. {Alluding to papers.'] Have 
you forgotten one summer's afternoon, some three 
months back, when we all thought Peter a prisoner ? 
You remember our predicament then ? I am stor- 
ing up fuel, my friend, against the kindling of his 
father's ire. 

Enter Roumiantzoff, without a hat. 

Roum. The master has overshot himself. 

Apraxin. You agree with me, Petersburg is a mis- 
take. 

Dolgor. Colonel, what have you done with your 
hat? 

Roum. What have I done with it ? Tried to hold 
it on. What has the wind done with it ? Tried to 
haul it off — and succeeded. Where is it ? Where 
we shall all be — Peter's self, Peter's burg, Peter's 
son, you — his Chancellor, me — his Colonel — where 
we shall all be, if this wind keep up for two hours 
longer. Where's that ? " In the Neva, in the Neva, 
in the blue Neva waters." It's not every sovereign, 
at two hours' notice, can turn his capital city into a 
school of swimming. {Imitates swimming. 

Tolstoi. Damme if I think it funny at all. 

Roum. I say, haven't you something to offer me 
to 

46 



Enter Masha/;'^;?/ L., with a glass of tea on a tray. 

Tea. The very thing ! \Goes to table. 

Masha. You can't have that. 
Roum. Oh, can't I ? 
Masha. It's for the Empress. 

[ROUMIANTZOFF deposits glass, and exit 
Masha. 

Roum. Is she here ? 

Tolstoi. In there, with Euphrosine and that young 
sprawler, Kikine. 

Roum. You don't mean to say Euphrosine and 

she 

Tolstoi. Oh, they're most charming to one another ; 
they'd Hke to tear one another's eyes out, but they 
are most charming. 

Enter EuPHROSlNE first, eating nuts ; then CATH- 
ERINE and Kikine. All rise on Catherine's 
eiitrance. EUPHROSINE tosses her head. 

Cath. [ To Kikine.] But she mustn't precede me. 
Tell her so. [KiKlNE crosses to and expostulates with 
Euphrosine.] How are you all ? 

\_A burst of firing. 

Apraxin. Be ready ; they're recommencing. 

Euph. [7<? Kikine.] Oh, nonsense, — rubbish! 

Tolstoi. [To Catherine.] How does your Maj- 
esty like my Chancellorie ? 

Euph. [Impudently. '\ Yes. How does your 
Majesty like my drawing-room ? I do think your 
husband might 

Cath. This is hardly the time, dear. 

Euph. [More impudently still, offering a handful of 
nuts.Ji Have some ? 

7 47 



Cath. \0n her dignity 7\ No, thank you, dear. 
Euph. Afraid of spoiling your teeth ? 
Cath. I am not afraid of spoiling my teeth. 
Euph. [ To herself^ Because they're spoilt already. 
Cath. I don't care about nuts. 

\Einphasis on " nuts." 
Voice. [Off.l All to the redoubts! 

[All leap up, seize weapons. TOLSTOI takes 
hold of Mansouroff and DOLGOROUKI 
^/Zabouroff. 

Tolstoi. Though you won't write for your country, 
you can fight for it. 

Voice. \_Off.'] Make haste ! 

{Exeunt all but CATHERINE, EUPHROSINE, 
and KiKlNE. 

Euph. A good riddance. Catherine dear, would 
you like your tea brought in here ? 

Cath. [At window to Kikine.] Aren't you going ? 

Euph. I asked you a question. 

Cath. I beg pardon, dear. 

Kikine. I'm under orders for Vienna, as soon as 
my passport and credentials are made out. I am to 
be seine hodgeborengewurdigheitigkeiten Excellenz 
Alexander von Kikine. 

Euph. Now perhaps you'll listen to me. I asked 
you if you'd like your tea brought in here ? 

Cath. Yes, dear, certainly. 

Euph. [7b Kikine.] Fetch it! 

[Catherine is at window. 

Kikine. [To EuphroSINE.] Life of my life, you're 
not annoyed with me ? 

Euph. I am very much annoyed with you. 

Kikine. Then I am paralysed. I can't stir. 

48 



Euph. Go and fetch the tea. 

Kikine. I can't, I'm paralysed. Euphrosine, I 
love you passionately, madly, devotedly, Alexishly; 
fly, fly with me to Vienna! Vienna ! \Singing.'\ The 
land of my boyhood, the land of my birth. 

Euph. Don't be an ass. 

Kikine. Ah, sagen sie nicht so, mein geliebte 
Herzen's gluckswunch. [EUPHROSINE slaps down his 
hatids.'] I will fetch the tea. 

Euph. Take care of the hole in the floor ! [KiKlNE 
makes an extravagant ecstatic gesture, pretends to trip 
over hole and exit. ^ Well, dear? 

Cath. \_Turning from wittdow.'] I beg pardon, 
dear; only I'm so anxious about the Emperor. 

Euph. Oh, I shouldn't be that, dear. Everybody 
round him is thoroughly wretched, so I suppose he's 
perfectly happy. [Catherine appears exasperated.'] 
Why aren't there candles lit ? 

[^Takes a paper off table and lights candle from it. 

Cath. You mustn't do that. Those are Imperial 
documents. 

Euph. There's lots left. 

Cath. My good woman ! 

Euph. It's done now. 

Cath. You'll get Alexis into trouble with his 
father ; believe me you will. 

Euph. He couldn't be in any worse than he is 
now. Poor fellow, they've sent him up there to 
look after that mud-burrowing or canal-making, or 
whatever they called it, day and night, and in all 
weathers. He's there now, a night like this. I 
think his father behaves like a brute to him. 

Cath. Please, dear, please remember who his father 
is, and please, who I am, also. 

49 



[EUPHROSINE makes faces at CATHERINE 
behind her back. Re-enter KiKlNE with 
glass of tea; trips over hole in floor, 
upsets tea. 

Euph. You've done it really now, clumsy ! You 
know, 1 got my foot in there the other day, and gave 
it such a wrench ; I nearly broke my ankle. 

Cath. You got your foot into that little hole ? 

Euph. Why, couldn't you ? \_Putti7ig foot through 
hole.'] Do you see ? Do you see ? See if yours will 
go in. 

Cath. My foot is just as small as yours. 

Euph. Well, try then, try. 

Cath. In comparison to my height. 

Euph. \_Maliciously.'] Your height — or your size, 
which ? Don't get angry, dear, it isn't my fault. 

Cath. [To KiKlNE.] I'd better be off. No, no! 
I can't put up with it any longer. Please fetch my 
things. [Exit KiKlNE. 

Euph. You're not going, dear. Oh, don't go, 
dear ! You haven't told me about the dress you're 
going to wear at your party to-morrow — and I must 
show you, I've got such a lovely piece of brocade. 
Alexis says — [She has taken piece of stuff up off 
table at back — she suddenly sees where APRAXIN tore 
a piece off.] — Well ! Oh ! — oh ! — Look here ! My 
dress is utterly spoiled. 

Enter APRAXiN. 

Cath. Well? 

Apraxin. A false alarm, madam. [Looking about ^ 
I left my hat — Ah ! ' [Sees it ott table at back.] 

Euph. [Seeing bandage on Apraxin's wrist^ Oh ! 
you beast! You thief! 

SO 



Apraxin. What's the matter, woman ? 

Euph. I had only just enough. You've ruined my 
dress, you devil. Take it off! Take it off at once, 
I say. 

Apraxin. Go away, woman ! 

Euph. \Turnmg to Catherine, and stamping with 
her foot.'] Tell him to take it off. 

Cath. But he's wounded, dear. 

Etiph. \_Beside herself.^ I don't care. He has 
ruined my dress. Tell him to take it off. [CATHE- 
RINE signs to Apraxin to go away : he does so. 
Turning on Catherine.] Why didn't you tell him 
to take it off? 

Cath. My dear 

Euph. You're just simply jealous, jealous of me. 
Why did you come here ? I didn't want you. 

Cath. Why, what's the matter, dear ? 

Euph. With your patronizing air. And you're not 
really the Empress at all. 

Cath. \Flying out.] You slut! how dare you! [7<? 
KiKINE.] My things. [KlKl^E he/ps her on. 

Euph. Eudoxia, my future mother-in-law, that's 
the real Empress. 

Kikine. {Helping Catherine on^ She's no right 
to say that. 

Cath. \Putting things on.] Ha ! your future 
mother-in-law ! Your future mother-in-law ! 

Kikine. [Aside to EUPHROSINE.] Go on ! give it 
her. 

Euph. And when he does marry me I shall be his 
real Empress — not like you. 

Cath. He never will marry you, poor fellow ! 
his father won't let him. And from the bottom 
of my soul I pity any man who had to marry 
you. 

51 



Euph. Not more than I pity any man who has 
married you, Catherine Skavronski. 

[Catherine gives her a look of fury. 

Kikine. Manners, manners, ladies, manners. 

Cath. This comes of associating with disreputable 
women. 

Euph. What did you call me? 

Cath. You're a bad woman — a bad woman ! 

Euph. You're a bad woman and a low woman, too. 

Kikine. My dear ladies ! 

Cath. Now you be careful ! Just you be very 
careful ! 

Euph. And when I'm Empress, I'll have you on 
your knees — [^Pantomime of scrubbing fioor~\ — pail 
.... scrubbing brush .... skirts up . . . you know, 
Hke you used to do for Pastor Gluck. [CATHERINE 
gives her a slap in the face ; then forces her into chair, 
holding her arms. Yii.KlN'Ecotnes between them. ALEXIS 
heard outside. EUPHROSINE rushes out to him. 

Kikine. Had you not better ? 

Cath. Oh, no, thank you. I'm not going to give 
her the chance of telling a lot of lies behind my back. 

Euph. [Ojf.'] And up with her hands and hit me, 
and all without my having done anything. 

Enter ALEXIS and EUPHROSINE ; then IGNATIEFF. 

Alexis. What does this mean ? Have you struck 
her? 

Euph. {^Whimpering.'] And called me 

Alexis. Don't cry, darling. Please to explain. 

Cath. Now look here, Alexis, that's not the tone 
to take up. She insulted me grossly ; she insulted 
me first. 

Euph. \_Still whimpering.] She tore my dress. 

Alexis. You'd no right to strike her. 

52 



Euph. And .... so hard .... muscles .... 
like .... fish-wife. 

Alexis. 'Sh ! dear, 'sh ! 

Cath. Here is Kikine. He saw it all. I ask you, 
sir, which of us was in the right ? 

Kikine. Well — er — so far as I can remember, one 
of these ladies called the other lady — no less a lady 
in her way than the other lady — well, she called her 
a gay lady. Well, I mean — not a good woman. 
Not a good woman. When I say good woman, I 
mean a really — a really good woman. And good, 
really good women are scarce. When I say a good 
woman, I mean a regular, downright, plain, straight- 
forward, good, ugly old woman. That's what I 
mean, 

Cath. {_Assuming great dignity.'] I have sufficiently 
listened to your impertinence. \^To EUPHROSINE.] 
To yours, miss — \^To Alexis] and, sir, to yours. 
I forget who I am. I forget you are but my subjects. 
You, miss, may thank my merciful disposition that 
I do not have your back well knouted, and your 
libellous tongue cut out of your head. You, sir, I ad- 
vise you to get quit of this — \Designating EUPHRO- 
SINE] — of this. Until you have done so, expect no 
further favours of me; except this last one — which 
is the only reason for my coming here to-day — to 
tell you your father, if State business permit, purposes 
visiting you this afternoon to examine the progress 
you have made in his affairs. I have put you on 
your guard. 

Euph. \_Calling out after Catherine.] You're a 
bad woman ! 

Alexis. My father coming ! What shall I do ? I 
have done nothing. \_Hand on pile of documents^] 
Look here ! 

53 



Eicph. Is my face still red ? Oh, the 

Kikine. Well, I should advise you, on the spur of 
the moment, to — er 

Ignat. Haven't you done harm enough ? You, 
who try to solve everything off hand ? 

Kikine. {Knowingly^ Oh ! 

Euph. Then will you this time ask him to let me 
marry you ? Alexis, listen : will you ask him ? 
Alexis. What does it matter ? 

Euph. What does it matter? I am struck, in- 
sulted ! What does it matter ? 

Alexis. Is it generous of you ? Haven't I trouble 
enough already ? 

Euph. Haven't I ? Is it generous of you ? You, 
who have raised me and taught me goodness and 
purity, who have given me new, high ideas; and 
now, when I want to live up to your ideas, and ask 
to become your wife : no, say you ! What am I 
really to you ? 

Alexis. You know you are everything to me. 

Euph. Yes, till I wear out, like a coat or a new 
hat ! Ah ! don't come near me ! I'll stay with you 
no longer. Here, take back all your presents. 

Alexis. Euphrosine ! 

Euph. Will you ask him ? 

Alexis. You know I daren't. 

Euph. Yet I, the poor peasant girl, dare be struck 
and insulted for your sake ; and you, the Prince, 
daren't risk even a cross word or an angry look for 
mine ! I am going to shut myself into this room, 
never to come out again except to be your lawful 
wedded wife. 

\Closes door, and locks herself in room R. 

Alexis. \At door.'\ Euphrosine ! Euphrosine ! 

Peter. \pff^ Where is General Bauer? 

54 



Igiiat. I think we'll 

Kikine. Wait downstairs. 

\_Exeunt Ignatieff and KiKlNE. 

Alexis. Whatever will become of me ? 

Peter. \PJf^ Is Bauer ever coming ? 

Alexis. Things must take their course ; I can't 
alter them, though I might have altered them. \Ar- 
ranging a place for PETER at table.'] A minute or 
two and here he'll be sitting glowering at me — " draw 
this ! draw that ! — what ! done nothing ? " Yes, the 
books. \_Fetches book off table at back.~\ " Especially 
the diagrams." It's too late now. \_Looks through 
books ; in moving some papers, discloses pistol on table, 
picks it np ; contemplates it ; dirties his hand with it; 
idea strikes him; rubs barrel against hand ; wraps 
handkerchief round it ^ "I'm afraid I can't draw; 
I've hurt my hand." Only I must keep calm and 
appear easy, or he'll detect me. Let me think of 
something else. \_Opens " Thomas a Kempis" lying 
on table.] "Do not make it a matter of moment who 
may be for you or against you ; the perversity of 
man cannot injure those whom God wills to be- 
friend." 

Peter. \_Off^ Let me know when he comes. 

Enter Peter with a bayonet under his arm. Alexis 
slips book into pocket. 

There you are ; glad to see you, my dear boy. \A 
great gust of wind^ Ah, bellow on, you great full- 
mouthed bully ! What do you say ? You say your 
name's Wind, do you ? and I say mine is Peter, 
which means Rock. Aha ! and his isn't quick- 
sand, do you hear ? All at us ! On the one side 
men, gods and elements — on the other, I and 
you. I must be getting old, I talk so much and 

8 55 



brag so much. \Throws himself on couch, mops fore- 
head.'] I'm dead beat, but I'm in good spirits. Do 
you know why ? Because I've got you, that's why. 
And now I've got you to step into my shoes, I feel 
my work can no way fail or pass away. All ready 
for me, I see. That's right. But before we go to 
work 

Enter General Bauer. 
Bauer. I was told 



Peter. \Risi7tgi\ Aha, my General Bauer! {Holds 
up bayonet.^ From your steel works, isn't it. General 
Bauer ? 

Bauer. {After having examined it.^ From the steel 
works entrusted by your 

Peter. Oh, punctilious German ! It's a good bayo- 
net ! [Bends it double.~\ Isn't it ? So pliant. {Bending 
it about.'] You can use it as — as anything, except a 
bayonet, which is made to prod and stick people with ; 
but this is no use for prodding and sticking people 
with, is it, General Bauer ? 

Euph. {Off.'] Alexis ! [Peter looks round, leaving 
bayonet in Bauer's hand.] Alexis ! 

Peter. Oho ! Oho ! 

Euph. Do you mean to ask him ? Alexis, are you 
there ? 

Peter. {Tryiftg to imitate Al,Y.X.IS.] I'm here. 

{Shakes finger at ALEXIS. Bauer wants 
to speak to him. Peter stops him. 

Euph. You won't get over me by trying to be 
funny. It doesn't suit you. Do you mean to ask 
him, when he comes ? 

Peter. But ask him what ? 

Euph. Oh, you know. Ask the old man [Peter 
points enquiringly at himself] to let me marry you. 

56 



Peter. Oh, the exorbitant creature ! 

Euph. \In trepidation^ Who's that ? \Silence. 
In greater trepidation^ Alexis ! Alexis ! 

[EUPHROSINE heard unfastening door, zvkick 
Peter gets up against. Euphrosine 
re-enters. 

Eiiph. Why didn't you ? What's the matter ? 

\^Looks round — sees Peter. Silence. 

Peter. You are always popping up unexpectedly. 
[ With mock bow.~\ Madam, my would-be daughter- 
in-law and future Empress of Russia. That's what 
you want to be, Empress of Russia, is it not ? 

Euph. I should like to be, certainly. 

Peter. You would like to be, certainly. So would 
some others I know. Let us see. We give you 
Russia : what do you offer us in return ? A pretty 
little face — value that — ^places money on table'\ — and 
a neat little figure — value that .... You're an im- 
pertinent, exorbitant little creature ! Pick up your 
proper value — we rarely get taken at it — and be 
thankful and be off! 

Euph. But mayn't 

Peter. \Assuming a mock ferocious air^ Would you 
like me for a father-in-law ? 

Euph. \Jiiins out centre^ No, I wouldn't, I 
wouldn't. 

Peter. \7~o Alexis.] You keep to the same one. 

Bauer. Your Majesty 

Peter. Well, Bauer ? 

Bauer. This bayonet has been put " to uses no 
bayonet would stand. 

Peter. It certainly won't stand the use for which it 
was made. Perhaps you make your bayonets for 
picking teeth. 

Bauer. It has been in the fire. 

57 



Peter. Has it ? 

Bauer. They will do it. Poke up their camp fires 
with them ; toast bread on them 

Peter. I believe it has ; General, I exonerate you. 
Draw out an order of the day : any soldier found 
using his bayonet for any but its proper purpose — 
well, a dozen notes of exclamation can stand for the 
— eventuality. [BAUER about to go^ Er — Gen- 
eral — how are you getting on with those materials 
for my history ? 

Bauer. Well, your Majesty. 

Peter. That's right ! \_Exit Bauer.] So we jumble 
them all up together ? I've such an ill-stocked tool- 
chest ; I have to plane with my adze and hammer 
with my bradawl ; and so you get my General — Hist 
— historiographers and my Senator- Quartermasters — 
and myself — who know something about everything 
and everything about nothing. All which makes the 
Westerners laugh at us. But we have set ourselves 
to overtake their orderly cavalcade, and if, in doing 
so, we wobble a bit in our saddles, it doesn't much 
matter, as long as we do overtake them — which we 
shall ; and hustle them up a bit — when we do. 

Alexis. Father ! 

Peter. Well ? 

Alexis. Will you . . . may I ... let me . . . 
marry her ? 

Peter. You — marry ! Marry . . . marry . . . 
who ? — who ? 

Alexis. Euphrosine. [Peter opens eyes wide and 
blows throjigh lips.'] Father, I do love her so ; do let 
me ; if you would only — father, will you ? 

Peter. What devil's nonsense is this ? Who the 
devil 

Alexis. Oh, father, why get angry ? 

58 



Peter. Quite right ! Why get angry ? Ha, ha ! 
It's too absurd, too. Do you mean to say she won't 
— er — without your Eh ? — Oh ! 

Alexis. I respect her; I revere her. 

Peter. What, that Httle 

Alexis. I want to make her my wife. Surely, 
father, marriage is a sacred thing. 

Peter. Marriage a sacred thing ? Yes, of course. 
Oh, yes, as head of the Church I must confess it. 
But, damn it all ! You're not going to marry every 
woman you fall in love with ! 

Alexis. I shall never love any other woman but 
her. 

Peter. You say so now. You're not in love ; 
you're love-sick ; \ovQ.-sick, my boy. Doesn't it 
sound nasty ? 

Alexis. Then you won't let me ? 

Peter. Certainly not ! You have got to marry a 
Princess: make an alliance, sir, and strengthen my 
position in Europe. Now, I've got my eye on 

Alexis. But if I don't love her. 

Peter. What is all this rigmarole about loving 
people ? Love, what the devil's love ? Children 
come without it. Witness yourself! Did I love 
your mother ? Yet here you are ; such as you are. 

Alexis. \_Eyes fixed on vacancy^ And what an 
unhappy marriage it has been! Then you married 
Catherine, because you loved her. You're happy 
with her. 

Peter. \_Cojttrolling himself.~\ Look here. Let your 
Euphrosine prove herself a Catherine, and then it'll 
be time enough to . . . To our studies. 

[Seats himself. 

Alexis. It seems to me immoral to marry a woman 
you don't love. 

59 



Peter. I don't care what it seems to you. Morals, 
my boy, are dangerous things to meddle with, 
especially for young men, take my word for it. 
Leave morals to those whom they concern ; and 
let's have no more on this subject, or I shall feel 
obliged to remove this Euphrosine creature. Come 
now, to work. [ALEXIS recalls to mind the pistol 
business, etc., which, in the warmth of the foregoing scene, 
he had quite forgotten. PETER takes out spectacles. 1 
You know this is a real pleasure to me ; I feel I'm 

stretching my hand out over over years and years 

of — of posterity — of life after death. Come here ! 
\^Puts spectacles on ALEXIS, who utters an exclamation 
of surprise.'] Aha! Isn't it an invention ? Ever so 
much clearer, don't you see with them, eh ? 

Alexis. Yes, I do, and — yes, much clearer. 

Peter. H'm ! I suppose your eyes are also weak, 

Alexis. What is it makes that ? 

Peter. That's the science of optics ; isn't it won- 
derful ? You shall learn that too, in time. Yes, 
I wanted to tell you before we begin work ; I've 
been thinking over what you said, you know, about 
getting to know one another, and all that : I think 
perhaps you were right, so I mean to have you much 
more about me in future ; and we'll see more of one 
another, won't we ? Well, now, have you been at 
the Euclid ? 

Alexis. \_Fcebly.'\ Yes. 

Peter. That's right. And the fortification ? 

Alexis. Yes. 

Peter. [Loud.] Yes. Excellent, excellent ! Ah, 
you'll maintain me, you'll carry me forward, won't 
you? You see now, don't you, how prodigious — 
how great — my work is ? 

Alexis. Yes, father, I do — of course. 

60 



Peter. H'm ! Let us begin elementary. You don't 
know what a pleasure this is to me. You don't. 
Now, sir, draw me a rhomboid. 

{Hands paper to Alexis. 

Alexis. I'm afraid, father, I can't draw to-day. 

Peter. Why not ? 

Alexis. I've hurt my hand. 

Peter. {Testily^ What did you do that for ? 

Alexis. It was an accident. 

Peter. Let's see it. 

Alexis. Ah, don't. It hurts even to 

Peter. Do you think I don't understand ? 

[ Tries to draw hand out of waistcoat. 

Alexis. Don't really. 

Peter. Is it a sprain, or a burn, or what ? How did 
you do it ? 

Alexis. With that pistol. 

Peter. [Picks tip pistol. A sudden change comes over 
his face ^ With this pistol ? 

Alexis. Yes. 

Peter. How ? 

Alexis. I — I forgot it was loaded. 

Peter. You're quite sure this is the pistol ? 

\A single gun fired. 

Alexis. Yes. 

Peter. Go on ! [Fiercely^ Go on ! Tell it out ! 

Alexis. I was turning it about 

Peter. Forgetting it was loaded 

Alexis. And it 

Peter. Went off: so! [Fires pistol. 

Alexis. Yes, and 

Peter. Reloaded itself ! [Pause. A single gun is 
fired. Peter puts out his arms and then raises them 
above his head ; drags Alexis' Jiand out of waistcoat, 
tears off bandage ; draws up his ozvn sleeve, disclosing a 

6i 



real wound. Forcing ALEXIS into chair.~\ Draw! 
draw, I say! 

Alexis. \Getting up."] I can't draw. 

Peter. You simply haven't opened these books ? 

Alexis. I haven't opened them. 

[J[ single gun fired. PETER throws open 
door. Papers are blown all over room. 

Peter. [ To DoLGOROVKi, seated outside.'] Curse; 
what's that cannon for? 

Dolgor. The water is rising in the river. 

\Pause. Peter raises his hands above his 
head. 

Peter. Keep me informed. \^C loses door ^ Help 
nowhere! Lazy, cowardly liar! Nothing avails. 
All is vain. My words are borne away upon the 
wind — what am I going to do with you ? I turn to 
you; I ask you. I suppose you've thought of it 
yourself? You don't suppose I'm going to let you 
stand stupidly still — as you are now — staring at 
nothing, eh ? Oh, that dumb-driven, stupid, vacant 
stare ! I am a man : I must die. And do you 
think I am going to entrust my tender half-ripe 
fruit-trees to one who, like the lazy servant in the 
Bible, buried his talent in the ground? Mute — 
always mute ! God ! let us get something out 
of you ! You shall disclose yourself \_Plunges 
hands into Alexis' pockets, brings forth some letters 
and a small book.] Ah ! Eu-phrosine ! — er ! \_Tears 
up letters. Opens book and reads.] Thomas a Kempis. 
" The Imitation of Christ." " Do not busy your- 
self in other concerns, or entangle yourself in the 
affairs of the great." — Underlined. " It is vanity to 
seek honour and to strive for high positions." Is — 
is this what you believe ? 

62 



Alexis. I like it. 

Peter. " Quiet that excessive desire for knowledge" 

— twice underlined. And this, too, you believe in? 
Alexis. I would like to believe it. 

Peter. Oh, God ! the prop has crumbled in my 
hands. [ Wind and cannon^ They'll have me down 
between them. Let the waters come ! What 
wisp of a thing are you that I have mistaken 
for a staff? Stubborn only not to be bent. \His 
eyes fill with tears^ It's the cruelest trick that ever 
was played on man. 

Alexis. Father, I have deceived you. 

Peter. I don't mean you. I mean He that brings 
all these powers against me, that puts only the 
mother into the son. [ With rising fury ^ It is her 
cursed spirit that lives again in you. [ Tapping dook.'] 
Fudge and rubbish ! Malingering, mawkish, shirking, 
hypocritical ! It is old Russia. You want to sit 
throned upon Inertia. To do nothing, and snore 
away your time : that is what it all really means. 
Who is not for me is against me. Do you hear 
that? 

Alexis. I cannot help it. 

Peter. I can and must. I am not yet in your 
hand. You are still under mine. And it shall be 
heavy upon you. One day death will strike me 
down and take my shoulder from the stone that 
in blood and sweat I have raised thus high, and it 
is you — you ! — that should have stood ready at my 
shoulder to take on my shoulder's burden. You ! 
think of it ! A thing like you ! It would soon brush 
you aside and crash down over my prostrate body 

— down, down into the quagmire and frog-pond out 
of which I dragged it. \In a very loud voice ^ So hear 
me now, what I say ! Once and for all, this is my first 

9 63 



warning ! You cannot any longer go on as you are 
— neither fish, flesh nor fowl. If you continue to 
stand out against me, I disinherit you ; I lop you off 
from me like a blasted limb. Now you have heard, 
and by the will of God I shall fulfil it ! Better a wor- 
thy stranger than an unworthy son. Better, better a 
thousand times 

\_Heavy firing. ROUMIANTZOFF rushes in, 
followed by ToLSTOi, Apraxin, etc. 

Roum. They've renewed their attack ! The bridge 
is swept away ! We are cut off from the redoubts ! 

\Pause. 

Apraxin. {_In a whisper^ We must retreat. 

Peter. \Casis a scornful look at APRAXIN. Seating 
himself and thrusting out his foot.'\ Retreat ! Help me 
off! Quickly! damn you ! don't you hear? [TOL- 
STOI pulls one boot off, ROUMIANTZOFF the other. 
To Alexis.] Shame on you ! 

Tolstoi. What are you going to do ? 

Peter. Swim over to them. They are my children. 
Better a worthy stranger — haste ! 

Many. No, no ; you'll be drowned. 

Alexis. Father, don't — don't! 

Peter. Then is your chance. 

Alexis. Then let me go with you. I am no cow- 
ard ; you shan't despise me ! 

Peter. '* Do not busy yourself in other concerns, 
nor entangle yourself in the affairs of the great." 

\_Exit Peter. 

Alexis. " Better a worthy stranger than an unwor- 
thy son." Well, you shall have your worthy stranger, 
my mighty father ; I will stand no longer in your 
way. 

64 



{Enter, in expectant haste, KiKINE and IGNATIEFF, 
afterwards EUPHROSINE, 



£., . " i Well, what has occurred ? 
Kikme. ) 



Kikine. We heard him storming at you, \_S7teeze. 

Euph. Alexis, don't let me be drowned, 

Ignat. Keep quiet, child ! 

Alexis. There's no danger, dear, 

Ignat. Why don't you speak ? 

Alexis. Everything is decided. 

Kikine. Hurray ! the standard of revolt streams 
forth upon the breeze. 

Ignat. One word to me ; from me to the Bishops ; 
the Bishops to the Priests ; the Priests to the 
people. 

Kikine. The Emperor is a dear old friend of mine ; 
he'll lend us his armies \Sneeze. 

Alexis. Yes. Furl up your standard; keep back 
your circular whisper; and, pray you, put yourself 
under no obligation to your old friend the Emperor 
on my account. Ah, my father is great ! I am 
proud to be his son. There he is out there, in the 
water, risking his life for his people. He will die for 
his people yet. 

Ignat. You have given in to him ? 

Kikine. Knuckled — vilely — under. 

Alexis. I am abdicating. 

Euph. What does that mean — abdicate ? 

[Kikine and Ignatieff dumb with amazement. 

Enter DoLGOROUKI. 

Dolgor. Another false alarm. 

Euph. [From one to the other."] Tell me what it 
means — abdicate. 

[Ignatieff//^/.? his hat on the table. 

65 



[Ignatieff and KiKINE take EUPHROSINE 
aside and explain to her. 

Alexis. Did my father plunge into the water ? 

Dolgor. There was no need ; common sense might 
have told him, only they'd all lost their heads, and 
you'd so excited your father. \_Exclamation from 
EUPHROSINE.] The redoubts are as much cut off 
from their attack as from our assistance. 

Ignat. \To EUPHROSINE.] And you no empress 
— that's what abdication means. Exert your in- 
fluence. 

Kikine. [Aside to EUPHROSINE as she crosses him.'] 
Flee with me to Vienna. 

Alexis. [Staring into vacancy.] He meant to have 
done it. 

[DOLGOROUKI crosses to KiKlNE and IG- 
NATIEFF. 

Euph. Alexis, you really can't be surely going to 
be so silly. 

Alexis. To lay down all cares and worries but 
you, my one care, my one and only worry. 

Kikine. [7<? IGNATIEFF.] Come along ! 

Ignat. \To DOLGOROUKI.] Thank you. You are 
an honest man. 

Euph. Yes, but I want to be an empress. 

Alexis. You think you do. 

Euph. Oh 

Kikine. Too late ! He's talking to Tolstoi on the 
landing. 

Ignat. 



j^-r. I Alexis. 
Kiki7te. } 

Alexis. I am quite calm ; I see everything clearly 

before me. 

66 



Kikine. Yes, but what about us ? If we are found 
here 

Igjiat. We have always been your friends. 

Alexis. Get into that room there. \_Exeunt KiKINE 
a7id Ignatieff, who has. left hat on table.'] You, dear, 
go into yours. \_Exit EuPHROSINE.] Now I will re- 
lieve my father's soul. 

{Re-enter Peter, followed by Dolgorouki 
a7id Menshikoff. Peter looks hard at 
Alexis for a iji07nent or tzvo. 

Peter. Wait outside. I shall not be long. \_Closes 
C. doors^ Forget what I said. \Sits7\ I will draw 
the figure for you myself, and letter it too. 

Alexis. \In a low voice, shaking his head.] You 
were right. I am unfit. I will do your bidding. I 
will abdicate. 

Peter. \_Rising gradually.] You'll what ? — You'll 
no, no! You desire . . . the greatest heri- 
tage that ever . . . you desire ? . . . 

Alexis. To ease you of me. 

Peter. Miserable cur ! \_Gives hi7n a buffet in the 
chest. Alexis turns his face to the wall and weeps!] 
Why, he simply leaps at it. My supreme threat is a 
boon to him — a dainty morsel in his mouth. 

Alexis. {Vehemently^ Why did you strike me? 

Peter. I will strike you again and again. I will 
thrash you and I will goad you. You have only felt 
my fist for the first time. 

Alexis. What do you want of me ? How is it pos- 
sible to content you ? 

Peter. What do I want of you ! Don't madden 
me ! Mercy of pity ! What do I want of him ! You 
are a false thing — a forged, dishonoured thing. A 
lie pronounced by 

67 



Alexis. Don't — don't, father! 

Peter. My child and none of me ! My flesh — 

and not a pulse responds to me ! My blood — and 
not a drop to shed for me ! 

Alexis. Oh, pity me ! 

Peter. Pity me / You are advised to this. Answer 
me ! Are you not ? 

Alexis. I only wished to please you. 

Peter. To please me — by showing me that you 
are the meanest, most unambitious thing that ever 
formed an obstacle to such a man as me. You are 

an obstacle, for \_Suddenly sees Ignatieff's 

hat on T.] That was not here just now. \Goes to 
door L., brings out Ignatieff, A pause.'] Ground 
at last ! The prospect clears by darkening. Here is 
your black shadow. \Calling out at door c] To the 
fortress with him ! Put him to the question ! [Sol- 
diers inarch IGNATIEFF ojf^ You are the fixed op- 
ponent of my work. Their hopes are thick upon 
your head. Your desire to abdicate was an ambus- 
cade. Be clean and clear with me. You can't de- 
ceive me now. I have seen you and that man together 
once before. Then my capital was in flames, my 
subjects' blood — the best of it — was flowing in 
the streets. I did not connect you then, but I 
do now. 

Alexis. What do you mean ? 

Peter. \Turning suddenly on him.'] I will tell you 
what you mean. You count the days and hours 
to my death. 

Alexis. Oh, never — never! 

Peter. Then they do for you. That is the same to 
me. They count the days and hours to my death, 
to take out even the very traces of my footsteps. 
You are all of you crouching in ambush. This 

68 



willing abdication is an ambush, so that you may- 
follow me securely behind the hedges ; and, as soon 
as I am dead, leap out and murder my first-born, my 
true son, my life-work. 

Alexis. You speak of murdering ? 

Peter. Ay, ay, of murdering. 

Alexis. What are you talking of? I ask only to 
be left in peace. 

Peter. That you never can. \_Patise.'] Yes, there 
is one clear way still left. 

Alexis. Only let me marry Euphrosine 

Peter. Again ! [Half aside.] We'll see that 
you're cut off from her, anyhow. And hear me 
now. You have refused my mantle, for it seemed 
heavy to you ; you have put aside my sceptre, for 
it was of iron ; you will lay down your finger from 
my crown, for it is not padded to the head like other 
crowns, but bites purple into the brows it weighs on. 
And you can do all this ? 

Alexis. I can. 

Peter. You may. 

Alexis. I may ? 

Peter. Yes — in a monastery. 

Alexis. In a monastery. 

Peter. Along with your mother. It is a monastery 
or my work ! 

Alexis. No, father, no. 

Peter. Light or total darkness — but no treacherous 
twilights ! Crushing labour, or utter purulent stag- 
nation. The bitter black bread of toil and the 
brackish waters of affliction — or neither bread nor 
water, but bare, stark starvation. A monastery or 
my work ! 

Alexis. But in the middle of my youth 

Peter. A monastery or my work ! 

69 



Alexis. \_Sinking his head.'] Woe on me ! I wish 
that I were dead ! 

Peter. So do I. \They look long at ofte another.] 
I leave you for a few moments. I shall return. 
Make up your mind and choose. I must feel some 
security. It's wretched to be near you; but it's hor- 
rible to be away from you. A monastery or my 
work ! My heart is still open to you ; still warm to 
receive you back. Lean towards me, and you may 
lean upon me. Lean away from me, or lean neither 
way A monastery or my work! [^Exit. 

Alexis. \_Rushes to door L., throwitig door wide.] 
Alexander ! Alexander ! 

Enter KiKINE, covered with fluff. 

Kikine. I got under the bed as be came in. 
Alexis. Have you heard ? 

Kikine. There is only one thing to do. You must 
get away from him. 

Enter EUPHROSTNE from door R. 

Alexis. Euphrosine ! they will tear you from me ; 
they will shut me in a monastery ! 

Kikine. Calm yourselves ! Listen to me ! 

Alexis. But he threatens Euphrosine ! 

Kikijte. You must take refuge abroad. 

Alexis. Where ? How ? 

Kikine. With the Emperor. Only too glad ; he can 
use you against your father. 

Alexis. Against ! Yes, I am against him. He 
struck me. I hate his cruel work ! I am against 
him ! 

Kikine. You can come disguised amongst my ser- 
vants as far as the frontier. 

70 



Alexis. But Euphrosine ? 

Euph. Alexis, you won't leave me. \Pause. 

Kikine. She must come disguised too, as another 
servant. 

Euph. What, I ? 

Alexis. But all in a moment — can I? Is it 
possible ? 

Kikine. As soon said as done. I'll go and see to 
your passports and to the clothes for both of you. 
{Aside to EuPHROSINE.] We shall still be together. 
\Exits and re-enters^ Your father's coming up ! 

{Exit. Euphrosine runs off into her own 
room. Re-enter Peter, followed by 
Tolstoi and Menshikoff. 
Alexis. Father, I have decided. 
Peter. Well? 

Alexis. I will go into a monastery. {Silence. 

Peter. Go ! I have no son ! Tolstoi, I have no 
son ! {Exit Alexis, c. Peter stares for some sec- 
onds into vacancy, suddenly sits down and commences 
looking over and signing pile of ukases on table.'\ 
Tolstoi, draw up a formal act of abdication. 
{Handing papers to Menshikoff.] Promulgate 
these ! 

{Exit Menshikoff. 
Tolstoi. Good master, not a thousand acts of 
abdication will make him less the Tsarevitch. 
Peter. He is to become a monk, 

{About to comm.ence writing. 
Tolstoi. Emperors have come out of convents 
before now, batooshka. The cowl is not nailed to 
the head, you know. 

{Their eyes meet. They look away from 
one another, Peter walks up and down 
clenching and unclenching hands. 

lo 71 



Enter Masha, carrying a tmiform. 

Peter. What have you got there ? 

Masha. The Prince's uniform, your Majesty. 

Peter. The Prince's uniform. 

\Exit Masha into room R. Peter sits, 
takes up paper, mechanically creases it 
with finger and thumb. 

Tolstoi. Your Majesty ! [Peter looks up.'] Not 
all the powers of the world can take the crease out 
of that piece of paper. 

Peter. [Looks at the paper, rises, tears paper to pieces.] 
It is out now ! 

Curtain. 



72 



ACT III. 

Scene. — Naples. A garden within the walls of the 
Castle of St. Elmo. Large gate in outer wall at 
back with small pass-door in it. Entrance to castle 
on R. Table R. Seat L. The point of a sentry's 
bayonet now and then appears above outer wall. In 
the distance the crater of Vesuvius. 

The two Captains discovered pacing stage together. 
Carlo laying table. 

1st Capt. At what hour was this ? 

2nd Capt. About three this morning. \_Pause. 

1st Capt. Did you question the sentry yourself? 

2nd Capt. Yes; I made a point 

\st Capt. How were they dressed ? 

2nd Capt. As far as he could see, ordinarily. 

1st Capt. Like Italians — there were two of them, 
you say ? 

2nd Capt. He only saw two. 

1st Capt. And they made off at once. 

2nd Capt. As he raised his rifle. 

1st Capt. \Turning on Servant.] Who's that be- 
ing laid for ? 

Carlo. For the Chevalier. 

\st Capt. Do you let him meal out here ? 

2nd Capt. He begged so hard. 

vst Capt. H'm — but 

27id Capt. "As one in concealment, not in confine- 
ment," so say my instructions. 

\st Capt. But there's only a wall between him 
and — [Urchin's head has appeared above wall. He 

73 



makes a sign to Carlo ; drops stone with note round 
it on to flower-bed below, ist Captain catches sight of 
Urchin] — you little — \head disappears'] — There, you 

see 

2nd Capt. They only come to steal the peaches. 

[Carlo Jias stealthily picked up and concealed 
the stone with the letter round it. 

Enter Major Steinmitz, laughing consumedly . 

I St Capt. Why, Major! 

[Major crosses to table, falls into chair, sinks 
head on table, latighi^ig to burst hi'tnself. 

2nd Capt. You seem amused. 

Stein. Amused — a woman ! ho ! ho ! ho ! a girl ! 

\st Capt. What the devil's the joke ? 

Stein. He's a woman. \_Paroxysm of laughter. 

Captains. \Together^ He's a woman ! 

Stein. She's a man, then. I don't know. 

\st Capt. What he ? What she ? 

Stein. The boy, the Chevalier's valet, is a girl all 
the time. 

Captains. What rubbish ! 

Stein. No, it's not. It comes straight from Vienna. 
It's a fact. 

\st Capt. Come now, that would certainly explain 
a good deal. 

Stein. An enormous lot. {Another paroxysm. 

1st Capt. Really — h'm — yes — there's something 
decidedly funny about it. {Begins to laugh. 

2nd Capt. Stop it, will you ; here she comes. 

Stein. Take me away, then. If you don't I shall 
explode right in her face. 

1st Capt. We'd better all go and get accustomed 
to the idea before we {Exeunt L. 

74 



Enter EUPHROSINE in male attire. 

Euph. \_Eagerly to Servant.] Well, well ? 

Carlo. \Giving stone with paper round it.^ Here 
you are, sir; it's a terrible risk I'm running. I should 
lose my place if I were found out. [EUPHROSINE 
gives him money ^ Oh, thank you, sir, thank you. 

\Exit. 

Eiiph. \_Unfolding letter] Now let me see. 
"Sweetest, your truly treasured letter has kindled 
the wildest hopes within my bosom." \_Looks about 
to see no one is coming^ " You ask me how I ob- 
tained a sight of you and how I penetrated your dis- 
guise. The limbs of youth are nimble" — he is young 
— "and the eyes of love are piercing. Gold also is a 
great power, and I have not stinted it " — and rich too, 
young and rich. "I am waiting for you to-day at the 
same place, and between the same hours. You can 
take advantage of the carnival to mask your fairy fea- 
tures. I shall wear a blue domino trimmed with white, 
and a mask. Ah, if only you could know the diffi- 
culties I have had to get this letter done into your 
language, then you might understand something of the 
pious, all-absorbing, all-subduing love of yours to 
command, Antonio, Count of Campastrella." I must 
go ; there'd be no harm in it. \Mnsic and laughter in 
distance."^ There it is ! Yes ; I must be there ! Oh, 
oh, oh ! I must, if only for an hour. 

[^Enter Alexis with gardening implements 
and a bundle of flowers, which he lays on 
table. 

Alexis. There you are, dear. Look at my 
flowers. What a lovely country it is! The birds 

75 



and the sunshine, and the flowers, I never thought I 
could have been so happy. 

Enph. \Havmg seated herself^ Come and eat 
something. Don't go wandering about ! 

\Thro'ws flowers aside out of her plate. 

Alexis. [Reproac/ifully.'\ Oh, Frine, Frine ! 

Euph. Did you put them there ? 

Alexis. I planted them and grew them for you. 
They are petunias. 

Euph. \_Picking them up7\ Oh, I'm sorry. 

Alexis. And such things spring up here — almost 
wild. Why, after poor, bare Russia, it really seems 
like Paradise, doesn't it? Every hour of the day 
I feel as if I were going to burst into tears. My 
heart is so full, my happiness so complete — I 
can't sit still. Do let me walk about. 

Euph. Alexis ! 

Alexis. Well, dear ? 

Euph. Oh, nothing — go on. 

Alexis. And the people here think me really clever 
and good for something, not like — \_Shrugs shoulders 
and shivers']. They say I've learnt their language 
quickly. And they see I'm so fond of their poetry 
and the lovely pictures in the chapel. I feel I was 
born for something here; and I feel other, deeper 
things, too — amongst these really cultivated men — 
And then to be alone, we two, quite all alone, and 
no one to disturb us. I could live and die here. 
[^Seated.] Willingly, willingly 

Ejiph. [^Suddenly.] I shall die here, if I don't 
get some kind of change soon. Oh, it's not so 
astonishing ! What is it but a sort of imprison- 
ment, after all ? 

76 



Alexis. [Heaves a long, deep sigh, and puts hand to 
head.'\ Euphrosine, what can I do for you ? 

\_Noise of carnival in distance. 

Euph. Let me go there, in amongst the carnival ; 
only this once — only for an hour or two ; may I go, 
Alexis? — Oh, Alexis, dear, do let me. [Alexis 
shakes head."] I will, Alexis, I must ! \_Angry. 

Alexis. But why get angry and stamp your foot at 
me ? Have I ever refused you anything I could do 
for you ? But this I can't do for you. 

Euph. Oh, yes, you can. You can ask the Gov- 
ernor when he comes. And when I do come back, 
I'll love you ever so much better, and never, never 
want to leave your side again. 

Alexis. How do I know you ever will come back ? 
Once the cage has been opened 

Euph. Why, Alexis, why ; how foolish of you ! 
Why, where should I go to ? Do, dear Alexis, do ! 
You know that I am yours. I have neither home 
nor money, nor anything, except what you give me. 

Alexis. Is that the reason ? 

Euph. And I love you. 

Alexis. You do love me ? 

Euph. \Kneeling by ALEXIS, and twijiing her arms 
round his neck.'] Do I love you ? 

Alexis. Ah, meeleetchkaya ! doosenka maya ! You 
know I can't refuse you ! 

Euph. \^Hugging him.'] Good dear ! Good dear ! 

Alexis. To love and to be loved ; to love and to be 
loved ! Your dear blonde hair ; your sweet, soft 
face ! My calm ! my calm ! my calm ! — a pretty 
name ! My sweetness of Russia ! My soft- water 
sprite ! Your cheeks are like fresh snow tipped 
with the aurora. And your eyes are like two small 
blue liquid flowers. I can almost hear them ripple 

77 



as I look into them. Yes, yes ; you shall go down 
to the blue water's edge ; only promise me that 
you'll not plunge in and become foam and sand and 
anemones as you used to be before. Promise me 
not to do that, maya roosalitchka. Promise me. 
Euph. \Getting away^ 'Sh ! Now ask him. 

Enter Field-Marshal T>K\Ji<i, followed by SXEINMITZ 
and the two Captains. 

Daun. \Stiff and pompous^ Good day to you. 
Chevalier. 

Alexis. Good morning. Field- Marshal, My page 
here is most anxious to see something of this fete 
to-day. 

Daun. Not to be thought of My orders, Chevalier, 
are imperative. 

Eiiph. You've no orders to disobey his orders. 

\General surprise. Da UN ruffled. 

Alexis. 'Sh! 

Daun. Of course, if you. Chevalier, particularly 
desire it 

Alexis. I do. 

Daun. Carlo But about getting back ? 

Euph. You had better give me the key of the small 
door. 

[Daun signs to Carlo to give key to 

EUPHROSINE. 

Daun. \To Alexis.] Let him be sure that he 
returns before dark, or he will not gain admittance 
to-night. 

Alexis. Yes; be sure you do. 

Euph. Oh, never fear ! 

[Carlo and Euphrosine go up to door back. 

Daun. Had not someone better accompany him ? 

78 



Euph. No ; I'm not a girl ! [Officers try to stifle 
their amusementl^ I can look after myself. 

\_Nods to Alexis and exit; Daun waves hand 
to Officers, who exeunt. 

Alexis. \Sitting^ I feel quite drowsy. I've been 
working hard in the garden all day. 

Daitn. I have brought you that Petrarch. It's 
rather antiquated Italian ; but I think you may 
derive some pleasure from it, nevertheless. 

Alexis. Oh, I am very much obliged to you. 

Daun. [Gravely.'] Your Imperial Highness 

Alexis. You have news for me ? 

Daun. Grave news ! 

Alexis. Am I discovered ? 

Daun. No, no. Not of that. 

Alexis. Then there is no grave news for me. 

Daim. Let your Imperial Highness prepare him- 
self 

Alexis. It is the delays that throw me into a fever. 
Tell me the worst. 

Daun. Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Cath- 
erine has presented the Tsar, your father, with 
a son. 

Alexis. Better news never came to me. 

Daun. But your succession ? 

Alexis. The burden is off my shoulders. Let him 
make the best of it. I am free. 

Daun. At the same time your father's agents 
show no slackening in their endeavours to discover 
the place of your concealment. 

Alexis. Ah, tell me of that. Am I found ? 
Quickly, the worst ! 

Daun. Your Imperial Highness, I will not disguise 
from you the fact that a fortnight ago there arrived 
in Vienna, incognito, an emissary of your Imperial 

II 79 



father's. He set about his inquiries immediately. 
When clues failed he had recourse to bribery. That 
also failed. We hope so, at least. 

Alexis. But you have doubts ? 

Daun. A week ago this emissary evaded the vigi- 
lance of our police, and vanished, as it were, into 
space. We hope he has returned to Russia, but 
of course he may 

Alexis. What was that ? 

Da2in. I heard nothing. 

Alexis. Behind the tree. 

Daun. Where ? 

Alexis. No, no ; it's nothing. Go on ! 

Daun. That is all. 

Alexis. Do you know that man's name ? 

Datm. He was a Monsieur Tolstoi. 

Alexis. Then I am lost. He will find me. That 
was the meaning of my dream 



Daun. My prince, my prince 

Alexis. Why, I had forgotten him entirely. And 
suddenly in my sleep there he was, with a trowel in 
his hand, digging and digging. And when he had 
dug a deep hole — his back was to me, but I knew it 
was he — he took a great bundle from under his coat, 
and he put it into the earth and put the earth all 
over it. And a week passed — and I waited and 
watched to see what would grow up from the bundle 
he had planted. Then I took a spade and I dug up 
the bundle. The cloth was all bloody. I untied it. 
And in my hand I held my own decaying ghastly 
head. I dropped it and I woke up shrieking. There's 
someone behind that tree ! 

Daun. Why, who can get in here ? It's impossi- 
ble ! Don't you see the sentry's bayonet ? Doesn't 
that reassure you ? 

80 



Alexis. Why did I let Euphrosine go ? 

Daun. Really, you need fear nothing. We had 
better come indoors ; it's getting late. 

Alexis. No, no ! I shall wait out here. \Getting 
over to chair.~\ That sleepy feeling's coming over me 
again. \^Sinks into chair. ^ My forehead's so wet. 
It must be raining. 

Daun. Your over-excitement has done that. Well, 
I must take my departure. Good-night to your 
Excellence. \No answer. Daun comes down and 
looks at Alexis.] It seems a sort of swoon, more 
than a healthy sleep. I'd better send into the town 
for a doctor. He can't take any harm here. 

\_Exit. Silence. Music. Twilight. 

Euph. {Outside^ No, no, Count! \Key in lock. 

Tolstoi. Let me see you safe inside. 

Euph. You must go. The sentry will be round in 
a moment. 

Enter EUPHROSINE. Tou^r^Ol forces his way in 
after her. 

You are mad ! Count ! 

Tolstoi. \_Removing mask and presenting pistol."] Not 
a sound ! 

ROUMIANTZOFF enters. 

RoumiantzofF, cover the man ! 

[Euphrosine has sunk 07i her knees before 
Tolstoi. 

Roum. [^Having advanced towards Alexis sleep- 
ing^ It's the Tsarevitch. 

Tolstoi. Don't wake him. Do you mean to keep 
quiet? 

Euph. Yes ; only take 

[Motioning him to put pistol aside. 

8i 



Tolstoi. \Lowering weapon.^ There! Will you — ? 
\Motions her to seat. Pointmg at sentry's bayonet 
appearing above wall.~\ You see, you are well guarded. 

Euph. What are you going to do to us ? 

Tolstoi. Do to you ? — nothing. We are evidently 
both in search of adventures ; and we have both 
found them. 

Euph. {Alluding to RoUMlANTZOFF, who is behind 
her.'\ He sha'n't stand behind me ! 

[Makes a sudden movement. 

Tolstoi. [Pointing pistol at her again. ] Don't disturb 
the sleeper. Captain, stand in front of the lady. 

Euph. If you mean no harm, why do you point 
that at me ? 

Tolstoi. Because I want to have a little quiet chat 
with you ; I know my methods are clumsy, but if I 
don't take Alexis back with me 

Euph. He will never — only by force 

Tolstoi. Of persuasion. 

Euph. Do you think you 

Tolstoi. No ; but you might. For the sake of 
your devoted, doting Count. [ Takes her hand. 

Euph. Oh, you horrid old creature ! 

Tolstoi. " I only live to touch your hand " 

Euph. To think I let you — Oh, I could pull my 
lips off for it. 

Tolstoi. It wouldn't do to let Alexis know about it. 

Euph. Know about what ? 

Tolstoi. That you had betrayed his secret into the 
hands of his father's envoys. 

Euph. But I didn't know. I thought 

Tolstoi. That you were going to an assigna- 
tion with a young Italian nobleman, your lover. 
[EUPHROSINE moves to end of seat and looks at 

82 



Tolstoi in perplexity and amazement^ Which 
version do you, or would he, prefer, do you think ? 

Eiiph. Oh, but I'm in a fix. 

Tolstoi. Yes ; you are rather. But there is a way 
out of it. Second my efforts. Persuade Alexis to 
return to his father ; do so, and you will have 
secured the Tsar's good will. He will rather support 
than oppose your marriage to the prodigal son re- 
turned. 

Enph. But how do I know it would be as you say ? 

Tolstoi. Does it not stand to reason ? 

Euph. Well 

Tolstoi. Don't be in a hurry. Let it sink in. Let 
it sink in. If you take the other course you only 
have to choose which of the two versions of our 
present situation you would prefer the Tsarevitch to 
hear. [/<? ROUMIANTZOFF.] I think he's ours. 

Enph. Well, what am I to do ? 

Tolstoi. To go indoors and wait for Alexis. When 
he comes to you in a state of distraction, urge him 
to return to your future father-in-law. 

Enph. I'll do it. 

Tolstoi. Sweetest, I kiss your hand. 

Enph. Oh, go along. 

Tolstoi. "The eyes of love are piercing." 

Euph. Oh, go along with you. 

[^Pushes him in the chest and exit. TOLSTOI 
stands smiling at ROUMIANTZOFF. 

Tolstoi. Why so heavy, captain, why so heavy ? 

Roum. I don't like it. 

Tolstoi. What, my methods ? 

Roum. No, the idea that we are working towards 
the killing of a son by his own father. For you 
say that's what he means to do with him. 

Tolstoi. He means to remove the crease. 

83 



Rouin. Then I wish to God I was not in it ! 

Tolstoi. I've no objection to taking your share 
of the credit — and the honours! How sound he 
sleeps ! 

Roum. You've not succeeded yet! / don't think 
you will. 

Tolstoi. I do. And I count on your co-operation. 

Roum. I must obey your orders. 

Tolstoi. Then go and wait behind those trees out 
of sight. When you hear me say " He is coming to 
you himself," walk out to us with these two letters. 
Give this one to him and this one to me. His is 
from the Tsar. Mine I shall make up according to 
the needs of the case. 

Roum. But if I walk in suddenly, you'll never 
make him think 

Tolstoi. He never thinks. By that time he'll be 
frantic with apprehension. 

Roum.. Supposing any officer of the garrison or the 
Viceroy ? 

Tolstoi. I shall know how to manage them. These 
letters will put the culminating point to his dis- 
tress. He will rush wildly to Euphrosine. And so 
the bits of our puzzle fall together and form — \with 
significance] — a block! Ah! he's waking. Go! 
Remember ! 

[Tolstoi stands near trees towards the left. 
Alexis wakes, stretches himself, looks at 
watch, moves up stage. Suddenly stands 
quite still, breathless, moves a little for- 
ward, utters a loud cry for help. ToLSTOI 
does Tiot move ; neither does ALEXIS. 

Alexis. \_With a low groan.'\ Tolstoi. — ^ speak, if 
you are alive ! 

84 



Enter Daun, with a Doctor and other Officers. 

Alexis. \Rushing to him.'] Look there ! Do you 
see ? 

Daun. ^Furious.] Who the ! How the ! 

Alexis. You see someone, don't you ? 

Daun. See someone ! Guard, turn out ! Answer 
for yourself ! You are Hable to be shot ! 

Tolstoi. I am ready to be shot. \Giving paper ^ 
This will answer for me. 

Alexis. \Whilst Daun is reading papcr^ It's he! 
It's Tolstoi ! Don't let him stay ! 

Datm. You are Monsieur Tolstoi ? [ToLSTOI 
bows^ I would suggest that the dignity of your 
Imperial master would be better preserved were his 
envoy to go about his master's business openly 
and not like a marauder. 

Tolstoi. Your Excellency, we meet fraud and con- 
concealment by fraud and concealment. 

Alexis. That is at me. He hates me. Make 
him go ! 

Daun. We can hardly do that. 

Alexis. You are in league ! You gave him ad- 
mittance. I am among the pitfalls ! I am taken ! 

Daun. Prince, prince, you do not understand ! 
Diplomatic usage. There is no suggestion of 
force. 

Tolstoi. I am here to reason with you, to en- 
deavour to persuade you. 

Alexis. What of? That you are not a black- 
hearted traitor ? That you would not be glad to 
see me dead ? 

Tolstoi. You see what a wild, angry boy it is ! 

Alexis. No; I am quite calm. [71? Daun.] The 
Emperor will not give me up ? 

85 



Daun. He will not derogate from his Imperial 
word. 

Alexis. \Folding his arms.'] What do you want 
with me ? Let us have your message, and have 
done with it. [TOLSTOI slightly disconcerted.] What 
do you want with me ? 

Tolstoi. I come from the Tsar, your father, to re- 
claim you, his son and his successor. 

Alexis. You come from a tyrant to reclaim his 
slave, a ploughman his plough-horse 

Daun. Prince, prince ! 

Alexis. No ; hear me, 

Tolstoi. Let him speak. 

Alexis. Ay ; let me speak. He will entrap me. 
Leave that to him. Do you know my father has 
struck me? [Ti? TOLSTOI.] Oh, don't hold up 
your hands. It's true, you know. 

Tolstoi. His father dotes on him ! He is his only 
son. 

Alexis. That's a lie ! for Catherine has just given 
birth to another. You didn't think I knew that. 
See how I have confounded him. Now you see 
what he is ! [TOLSTOI disconcerted^ Is that all 
your message ? 

Tolstoi. That is all. 

Alexis. And this is my answer — calmly and with 
folded arms. To Russia during my father's lifetime 
I will never return ! Now go ! 

Tolstoi. You prefer to wait till he comes over to you. 

Alexis. He is not coming here ? \To Daun.] You 
wouldn't let him see me ? 

Tolstoi. When they admit the servant they are 
hardly likely to keep out the master. 

Alexis. But he can't force me to go with him ? 

Daun. He cannot force you. 

86 



Tolstoi. But he can force your protectors to 
relinquish you ; and he will, by force of arms, if 
need be ! 

Alexis. Make war for me ? 

Daun. Sir, do not think to frighten us with 
threats. 

Alexis. You are talking idly. Though blood must 
not be spilled for me. 

Tolstoi. Alexis Petrovitch, Tsarevitch of Russia, for 
the last time I summon you to make submission to 
the Tsar your father, before it is too late. These 
were his last words to me: "Tell my son that if he 
will return to me of his own free will, I will forgive 
him everything." 

Alexis. You say he said so. Do you think I 
believe your word ? 

Tolstoi. " If not, and I have to come for him — I 
will forgive him nothing. But he cannot long elude 
me. 

Alexis. He mustn't see me. Take me to some 
fresh hiding-place ! 

Tolstoi. To be discovered there even as you were 
here. You fancied these high walls and the 
bayonets of your sentries and the power of Austria 
rendered you inaccessible ; did they ? You may 
turn a deaf ear to me. But what will you say to 
your father ? For I swear to you — \In a loud voice'] 
— t/iat he is coining here himself. Accede only to 
force and you will encounter nothing else but force as 
long as you are alive. 

Enter RoUMIANTZOFF. General astonishment. 

Alexis. My father has come ! 

Tolstoi. {Aside to Daun.] Don't interfere ! 

[ROUMIANTZOFF gives despatches to ToLSTOl. 

12 87 



Tolstoi. \_Reading.'\ "For my son." [^Crosses to 
Alexis and gives despatch to him.'] From your father. 

Daun. [Advancing.'] But I can't lend myself to 
tricks 

Tolstoi. [Taking him aside.] A word with you. I 
am fresh from Vienna. I know the mind of your 
Government. 

Alexis. [Sinking into chair.] He means to come! 

[Head in hands. 

Tolstoi. They want our alliance against the Turks. 
If you wish to advance yourself, get them honourably 
rid of our Alexis. 

Daun. This may be true, or it may not. 

Tolstoi. [Giving papers.] Read these. They will 
convince you. 

Daun. The minutes of the Aulic Council. How, 
in heaven's name, did you get these ? 

Tolstoi. How did I get in here ? I like to assist 
merit. You are evidently a painstaking man, Field- 
Marshal. I should be sorry to see your career run 
aground for lack of a little reliable information. 
Here you have it! And I rely on your support. 
[Having opened his despatch.'] Is this true ? That 
there is amongst the prince's suite a woman 
masquerading as a man ? 

Alexis. Oh, Euphrosine I 

Tolstoi. [Aside.] Say it's true. 

Daun. I believe it is so. 

Tolstoi. My master calls upon your Government to 
separate this creature from his son 

Alexis. No, no ! 

Tolstoi. And put an end to this disgraceful scandal. 
— Say you will ! 

Alexis. There's no harm in it. 

Tolstoi. [Aside to Daun.] Preferment hangs by it. 



Daun. In such a matter it would be hard to disre- 
gard a father's 

Alexis. Ah ! They will separate us. Perhaps al- 
ready ! — They may have already ! — Euphrosine ! 
Euphrosine ! {Rushes into castle. 

Daun. Come after him ! He'll have another 
seizure ! 

[Rushes off, followed by all his Officers. It is 
-much darker. 

Tolstoi. The end has begun. 

Roum. It's fabulous. 

Tolstoi. And it was not such child's play, either. 
For once — would you believe me ? — he tripped me 
up most prettily. Oh, he's not such a fool ! I 
shan't be really happy till we have got him on the 
other side of our Russian frontier. Then I shall be 
certain of my Count's title, and you, your rank of 
General. 

[Euphrosine bounds in, clapping her hands. 

Euph. Hurray ! Hurray ! We are going home ! 
Tolstoi. Well done, my little Empress ! 

[Euphrosine signs to him to keep his dis- 
tance. Re-enter ALEXIS with some books 
under his arm, Daun aiid Officers. 

Alexis. I will follow her — your advice. Take me 
back to my father. 

Tolstoi. [Kneeling and kissing Ai.EXls'' hand.'] Once 
more our Tsarevitch. 

Roum. [Aside.] The kiss of Judas. 

[The doors have been thrown open. 

Alexis. [ShakingDAVN's hand.] Thank you, thank 
you very much for all — . You see I am taking my 
poets with me. [ Tears come into his ej/es.] Please 

89 



wear this in remembrance of me. {_Gwes him a ring 
off his finger ; then turns to ist Captain.] And for 
you — please this. \Gives him a second ring, turns to 
2nd Captain, feels for something about himself^ What 
have I for you ? This was my mother's gift to me. 
I have only my best thanks. Thank you all — all 
very much. \Half breaks down. 

\Soicnds of the Carnival. ALEXIS raises his 
finger, turns and sees red light above 
Vesuvius. 

What is that light ? It seems an evil portent. 

\Moves down stage. 
Daun. A thing of everyday occurrence. We will 
accompany your Highness some of the way. 

[Alexis moves up stage again. ToLSTOl and 
ROUMIANTZOFF close eagerly round him. 

Alexis. Why do you close in on me so ? 

\Hesitates, comes down stage, seats himself. 

Tolstoi. It all hangs by a thread. 

Alexis. Dear Italy ! How happy I have been 
here. 

Euph. [After a word with TOLSTOI.] Come on, 
Sas henka ! Let's be off. 

Alexis. [Rising and going up stage. "^ The happiest 
chapter in my life is closed. 

Tolstoi. And it's the last but one. 

[Daun and Officers go off first, then Alexis 
and EUPHROSINE, and then TOLSTOI and 
ROUMIANTZOFF. The Stage is left empty. 
Music. 

Curtain. 



90 



ACT IV. 

Scene. — Si. Petersburg. The Great Hallofthe Senate. 
June 24th, 17 18. 3 «. m. From about half-way 
up the stage tiers of benches raised one above the 
other. Between the two blocks of tiers in centre of 
back wall large folding doors. Smaller doors R. 
and L. Near door R. a wooden barrier with chairs 
in front of it. Large table covered with documents 
C. Two chairs behind it, and one on its right. 
Gallery at back. Two Servants discovered light- 
ing candles. 

\_Enter COUNT TOLSTOI, follozved by six 
Soldiers, a Non- Commissioned Officer 
and two Clerks. Non-Commissioned 
Officer sets two Soldiers at each door. 
One of the Soldiers at door c. is 
Mansouroff. Enter Menshikoff at 
door C. 

Menshik. We are all here, Count ? [TOLSTOI bows. 
Tolstoi. And the clerics? 

Menshik. They, too. Count, we have always stood 
by one another. Do tell me what is to be the 
subject of this extraordinary enquiry ? 

Tolstoi. Are your peculations making you feel 
uneasy ? 

Menshik. That is a boat I should not sail in alone, 
Count. 

{Enter General Roumiantzoff from door 
r. As door is opened and shut, a low moan- 
ing sound is heard. He hands TOLSTOI 
a paper, which ToLSTOl looks over. 



Menshik. Well, well ; we are ready when you are. 
\Gives a long sigh^ This anxiety is terrible. \_Exit. 
Tolstoi. \Giving back paper. ~\ Not enough! Give 
him ten more ! 

Roum. Will you write it down, Count ? 
Tolstoi. Certainly, General. [^Writes on paper. 

[Catherine has appeared at door L. Sol- 
diers attempt to bar her entrance. 

Cath. What are you doing, blockheads ? 

Tolstoi. \_Looking up.'] Your Majesty ! Fellows, be 
careful. 

Cath. [^Hurriedly.] What are you going to do to 
him ? 

Tolstoi. Judge him. 

Cath. I have a great service to ask of you. Will 
you let someone — someone I particularly wish to be 
present at this — 

Tolstoi. I must know who it is. 

Cath. No, I can't tell you. It's quite dark there 
at the back — you'll do this for me ? 

[Beckons off at door L. 

Enter EuDOXIA, closely veiled, etc. 

No one could possibly distinguish right up there 
among all the other clerics . 

Tolstoi. But indeed 

Cath. If the worst happens, it is I shall succeed 
my husband. 

Tolstoi. For the first time in my life I turn my back 
upon your Majesty. I have seen nothing. 

\Goes R. says something to ROUMIANTZOFF. 

Cath. Wait till the others come in and take theirs ; 
or you'll be spied out at once. 

92 



Eudoxia. God reward you, noble Catherine. \As 
ROUMIANTZOFF Opens and closes door a shriek is 
heard.'] It's not him 

Cath. No ; but they're torturing someone. 

Eudoxia. You don't think they'll take his life ? 

Cath. No, no ; I don't — not his life. 

Etiter Menshikoff. 

Menshik. Are you ready now ? 
Tolstoi. Yes, come in, all of you. 

Enter at door c. a throng of Officers and Officials of 
all kinds, also ^/"Ecclesiastics of various grades. 

Eudoxia. You have kept your word to me. 

Cath. Oh, not too well. I once let my petty anger 

with that Euphrosine woman But all I can 

tho' it should cost me my life 1 will do for him 

to-night. 

Eudoxia. You are a better woman than ever I 
have been. 

Cath. Now, now ; don't make me tearful. It's 
only by joking with him that I can manage him 
at all. 

Tolstoi. All secular officers to the right ! Eccle- 
siastics to the left ! 

Cath. Now ! — I am going into the gallery. 

[Eudoxia ascends tiers; Catherine exits c. 
They all arrange themselves upon tiers of 
benches. 

Enter Apraxin with the model of a ship in his hand. 

Apraxin. The Tsar will be here in a moment. 
93 



Tolstoi. What's the boat for ? 

Apraxin. \_Makes room for model on table.'] I sup- 
pose he's going to work on it during the Court. 



Enter General BAUER with a pile of manuscripts. 

Tolstoi. What are these ? 

Bauer. The materials of my history. He's going 
to correct them. 

Tolstoi. And you too, I expect. 

Bauer. That's certain. He told me to sit next to 
him. 

Tolstoi. Sit here then. \_Silence. An Officer in the 
front row of the R. block is trying not to drop off to sleep. ] 
They're as still as mice. They're all of them quiver- 
ing inside ; each one thinking his own turn has come. 

\A door heard to slam. 

Apraxin. He is here. 



Enter PETER in a rough working costume, and followed 
by a Servant, carrying a rich coat. All rise. 
Peter motions them to be seated. He strips off 
rough working coat, and gets into the rich one. 
Catherine laughs in gallery, and gives her hands 
a clap. 

Peter. Who was that cackling ? 

Cath. I ! Katinka ! 

Peter. Go home and nurse your child. 

Cath. Peter ; how are you treating yours ? 

[Peter takes a seat apart, and motions to 
Tolstoi. 

94 



Tolstoi. The Court is opened ! Officers of the 
Crown and Prelates of the Church, you are all 
assembled in this place to take cognizance of the facts 
concerning, and after having deliberated upon them, 
to give judgment between the most merciful Tsar, 
our Father, and his rebellious, unfilial and but lately 
fugitive son, Alexis Petrovitch, sometime Tsarevitch 
of Russia ! Bring in the prisoner ! 

Peter. Tell them they are to forget that I am 
here. 

Tolstoi. You will forget that the Emperor is here. 

Peter. And tell them not to keep all their eyes 
fixed on me. 

Tolstoi. Do not all look at the Emperor. You are 
to forget that he is here. 

Peter. \_Prodding man who is dropping to sleep. '\ 
Wake up, will you ? 

[Alexis is brought in between two Non- 
commissioned Officers. He riisJies forward 
and throws himself at Peter's y^^/. 

Alexis. Father ! once before I threw myself at your 
feet. You rebuked me then. 

Tolstoi. Deliver your sword into the hands of the 
Court. 

Alexis. But then I had not wronged you half so 
deep as I have since. And now I dare not stand up 
before you ! \Silence. Peter sits with arms folded 
and biting his lips. All seem afraid to aet.'\ Father ! 
say a kind word to me. 

[Peter tnms away and fiddles with model 
of boat. 

Peter. {Fiercely, to TOLSTOI.] You are the Presi- 
dent of the Court. Enforce its discipline. 

Tolstoi. Keep the prisoner to his place and take his 
sword. [Alexis is seized and dragged backwards. 

13 95 



Alexis. What does this mean ? [A groan is heard. 

Peter. Who groaned there ? 

Cath. \Oiit of gallery^ I. 

Peter. Oh, you ! 

Tolstoi. \_Reading^ Alexis Petrovitch, you are ac- 
cused 

Alexis. Accused, accused, accused 

Tolstoi. Of having conspired 

Alexis. But this can't be. Your solemn oaths ! 
Father, your letter. 

Tolstoi. Be silent. You shall be heard in your 
defence. 

Alexis. Then I am to be tried? And these are all 
my judges. And he ! You, whose very lips. . . Of 
what am I accused ? 

Tolstoi. Of having conspired against your father's 
Crown and Empire ! 

Alexis. How have I been duped ! " Conspired 
against your Crown and Empire." It's false as mad. 
The head of this state is perjured. All oaths are 
broken ! Allegiance is annulled. You may commit 
me of disinclination, that is the worst you can — that 
is no crime. I suppose I may have a chair. 

\A chair is brought at a sign from TOLSTOI. 

Tolstoi. Fetch in the first witness. 

Peter. \_Looking over manuscripts.~\ There were only 
2,194 killed at Poltava — this is a gross blunder. 

Bauer. A discrepancy of ten or so. 

Peter. Do ten count for so little when we are 
making so much of a single one ? 

[KiKlNE led in^ livid and half fainting. 

Alexis. \_Advancing towards him.^ Ah ! he has 
been tortured. 

Tolstoi. Hold him to his place ! 

[ They hold him hack. 

96 



Alexis. What have I brought upon you, Alexander, 
my friend ? \_Sobs are heard. 

Peter. Is someone sobbing there ? 

Cath. I sobbed. 

Peter. Oh, you ! 

Tolstoi. [To KiKlNE.] Tell us what you know of 
the prisoner's treasonable practices ? 

Kikine. I — one day, when — he 

\Nearly sinks to the ground. 

Tolstoi. Prop him up ! 

Kikine. Don't, don't ! — I'll speak. My head's 
gone quite empty — I can't think. Give me time — 
Not back there ! not back there ! 

Alexis. [Face in hands ^ Oh, misery ! misery! 

Peter. Let him sit and try to collect himself. 

[Kikine is placed on seat in front of barrier^ R. 

Alexis. You have over-tortured him ! 
Tolstoi. Meanwhile, here are copies of his depo- 
sitions. Read them amongst you. 

[Clerks hand about depositions. 
Peter. Well, go on ! 
Tolstoi. Bring in the second witness. 
Alexis. What horrible absurdity is this ! 
Peter. \To Man who is dropping off again^ If you 
go to sleep again, I shall assail you with unnecessary 
violence. 

[Ignatieff is led on. He is in much the 
same plight as KiKlNE, but manages to 
walk firmly. 

Alexis. My poor confessor. Oh, bring it to an 
end! 

Tolstoi. Tell us what you know. 

Ignat. [In a firm, deep voice.'] Turn your head to 
me, Peter Romanoff, and you shall hear ! I say, 

97 



look every one of you within yourselves — into your 
own hearts — and which of you all set up to be his 

judges 

Alexis. Brave, staunch father 



Ignat. — should not be standing there, beside 
your Prince ? — They all desire your death, Peter 
Romanoff! What ! why don't you bark and fawn 
upon him, and lick his hand ? That's strange. 
Have you found a little courage herded so closely ? 
Where are the sheep-dogs, Tolstoi and Menshikoff ? 

Peter. Take him away ! 

Ignat. Back to the torture chamber ? 

Peter. Ay, back to the torture chamber. [Walks 
up and down a hit^ I know he said the truth. Oh, 
now let my spirit uphold me ! Go on, the next ! 

Alexis. Another ! [Suddenly titters a piercing 
scream.'] It's her ! [Struggles violetitly. 

Tolstoi. Hold him ! 

Alexis. They have tortured Euphrosine ! 

Peter. We have not. 

Tolstoi. Indeed not. 

Alexis. Swear it to me. I'll cry out till you do. 

Peter. I swear it to you. What she says she comes 
to say gladly and readily. 

Alexis. Then it will be nothing against me. 

Peter. It will be all against you. The door is 
open. Watch it ! 

Alexis. And I do. Oh, father, your Court mis- 
carries, but such tricks as these won't set it on its 
feet again. The first you had over-tortured ; the 
poor second you did wring some truth out of him. 
Some truth — the truth ! The very truth. And now 

you think with such a shallow device Take 

lessons of Tolstoi. He lays his man-traps better ! 

Peter. The door is open, watch it ! 

98 



Enter EUPHROSINE lightly. 

Alexis. Yes, it's she — Euphrosine — and she's 
smiling. God be praised for that ! 

Euph. Oh, I am really sorry, Alexis 

Alexis. We should never have left Italy. The 
head of this state is perjured. But make haste, dear, 
and get out of all this horror. 

Tolstoi. Repeat those words of his again — you 
know the ones ! Loud, so that all may hear. 

Euph. [ To Alexis.] I am sorry. He said, " yes, 
I am against my father." [ Utter blank amazement of 
Alexis.] " I wish he was dead." 

Alexis. What are you doing ? 

Etiph. And that when he was Emperor, he said — 

Alexis. Euphrosine ! Euphrosine ! 

Euph. He would leave Petersburg to the wolves. 

Alexis. Euphrosine ! 

Euph. [ With a deprecating gesture^ And destroy 
the Navy. 

Peter. [ With tremendous emphasis^ Hear that ! 

Alexis. {^Lifting up his voice and crying aloud.~\ 
And this out of the lips I have filled with kisses. 
For this woman I have stripped myself bare to the 
bone ! Take her out of my sight ! Now I confess 
it all. 

Peter. You do confess it all ? 

Alexis. All, all, all. 

Peter. Her words as well ? 

Alexis. Her words ! Can falseness come out of a 
woman's mouth ? 

Peter. Then pass to sentence. He acknowledges. 

[Tolstoi gives directions. All consult to- 
gether. 



99 



Euph. Alexis, what was I to do ? 

Alexis. Don't talk to me, or I may turn and accuse 
you ; and that I would not. 

Euph. We had to be separated. 

Alexis. Who was it brought me to — ? no, no. 
Be off! Don't drag me down any further. 

Cath. Oh, you young Zebezel — I mean Zezebel. 
Peter, why don't you have her knouted ? 

Peter. Hold your tongue. 

Cath. I've done. [Half to herself."] Disgrace to 
our sex. 

Euph. [To Peter.] Your Majesty will not forget 
your promise? 

Alexis. [Looking up.] Oh, there was some induce- 
ment ! 

Peter. What promise ? 

Euph. To settle me with a well-to-do husband. 

Cath. Let me alone to choose a husband for her ! 

[A pause. EUPHROSINE touches KiKINE 
playfully on the shoulder. He looks up 
at her. She gives a little exclamation of 
horror. 

Peter. Hold your tongue ! [Prods the m.an who has 
been dropping off to sleep all the time.] Wake up ! 
You've got to marry this woman. Make her as 
happy as you can. 

Euph. But 

Peter. He is good enough to be my officer, he's 
surely good enough to be your husband. Take him 
along with you. Take them away. 

Alexis. It is well disposed of It's justice for you. 
He's a man. What do you want more? [The two 
are hustled out by the Soldiers.] Nothing can touch 
me now ! 

loo 



Peter. \To Bauer.] You're more than a hundred 
out this time. 

Alexis. Father, let me come near to you, for I 
want to talk to you close to. 

[Peter signs to Guards, wJio release ALEXIS. 
He comes up to Peter. 

Peter. I have always wanted to hear you. How 
often have not I asked you to open your heart to me ! 

Alexis. I will do so now. A great waste void has 
been made in both our hearts. 

Peter. \In a low voice7\ Ay, that there has. 

Alexis. Ignatieff made that in yours. You heard 
me cry out as the void came into mine — but out of 
its emptiness my heart has found its voice. I abhor 
your work. I did not understand it. I fled from it 
out of fear, — but I do understand it now. 

Peter. Do you ? 

Alexis. And were I free again, I would flee from 
it out of disgust. 

Peter. Disgust at what ? 

Alexis. At it all. At these hideous, honourless, 
virtueless hirelings of yours. And disgust at you 
yourself! 

Peter. At me ? 

Alexis. Let me go on. I said once — Old Russia 
for me ! But I say now, neither old Russia nor new 
Russia. I have been abroad and I have seen — true 
civilization. 

Peter. And I went abroad, and I saw it too. 

Alexis. No, you did not — your vision was too 
narrow. 

Peter. Are you laughing at me ? 

Alexis. The power of your work is such as the 
power of the frost. It will be unproductive. The 



soft, swift river you plate over with plates of iron, so 
that armies and artillery may pass over it. But the 
powers of the yielding waters and the wafting winds 
— the greater powers of love and humbleness and 
mild control — the sail, the winds and the currents 
all working in sweet unison 

Peter. What mad talk is this ? 

Alexis. This, I say, you know nothing of You 
only see strength in what you can stamp your foot 
on, in what you can break and shatter other sorts of 
things against. 

Peter. I have preferred my Navy before everything. 
What are you saying ? 

Alexis. What you will not understand, but what 
must find some echo even in their degraded 
souls. 

Peter. You wish to stir them up against me ? 

Alexis. And I wish to shake the proud heart that 
rejoices in its cruel labours. 

Peter. You shall not go on. 

Alexis. I will — I must! One day shall see you 
sitting destitute amongst the damp flakes and the 
crumbling plaster of your half-finished ramshackle 
edifice — for building can't be carried on in the frost. 
Remember that! And your years of frost are 
coming, 

Peter. You shall say no more. 

Alexis. Cage me up in a Monastery, if you will. 

Peter. I gave you that choice once. It'll not be 
offered you again. 

Alexis. Crush me beneath your chariot wheels — 
do what you will with me, I have made you quiver in 
your heart. 

Peter. I have done my best. They all know we 
must pass through worse to better. 



Alexis. This miserable Russia struggles in your 
grasp. 

Peter. Through worse, I say, to better. Through 
worse to better ! 

Alexis. The same mad ferocity, the same thirst of 
blood, the same brutish fury burns in your eyes and 
in theirs. It is the tussle of a mad man with a mad 
dog. So you see, I give you some superiority. Ay, 
rave and curse. Prove what I say upon me before 
them all. I care not now how often you may strike 
me. \_Murinnrs amongst the assembly^ — Blood and 
torture was the foundation of your work ; with 
blood and torture you have watered it ; the root of 
it is in the depths of the darkness ; the luxuriance 
of the leaves is the luxuriance of rankness and decay, 
blood and torture, manglement and butchery — they 
shall hold it together ; and when you die, a hecatomb 
shall be your only monument. 

[Mansouroff suddenly levels his bayonet, 
and rushes at Peter. He is seized. Peter 
draws his sword. A general commotion. 

Mansour. I rebel ! I rebel ! I knew I should 
rebel ! 

Peter. [^Sword in hand.'] I'll stab whoever stirs ! 
Call in fresh soldiers ! Silence ! and sit, I say ! 

Alexis. The tide rose with a great sweep then. 

[Murmuring stops entirely. All reseat them- 
selves. 

Mansour. His cannon wheels went over my son's 
body. 

Peter. Take him away, but don't kill him. He's 
mad, and we'll study him. 

Mansour. Then he cut up my son's body with his 
own hands. With his own hands he cut it up. 
14 103 



Alexis. What, that day ! Was that your son ? 

Mansour. \As he is dragged out.'] And I was drunk 
— drunk — when my only son — He has no place of 
burial \^His voice dies away. 

Tolstoi. We are resolved upon our sentence. 

Alexis. Do you remember that occasion ? 

Peter. Silence — and hear your sentence ! 

Alexis. The blood that seemed cold has begun to 
smoke again. 

Peter. I'll have you removed! 

Alexis. It is you who are on your trial. There ! 
I'll be silent now. 

\A sort of convulsion comes over Peter. He 
is evidently trying to control himself. 

Peter. Read ! 

Tolstoi. It is with a heart full of affliction, and 
eyes streaming down with tears 

Alexis. Good, good ! 

Tolstoi. That we, as subjects and servants, pro- 
nounce this sentence, which is, as agreed upon 
unanimously by us all, that the crimes of Alexis 
Petrovitch, sometime Tsarevitch of Russia, against 

the most mighty and merciful Tsar 

Alexis. Merciful ! — and we all keep our counte- 
nances ! 

Tolstoi. Against the most mighty and merciful 
Tsar, our Father, are deserving only of death. 

[EUDOXIA utters a piercing scream and faints. 

Alexis. {Utterly bewildered^ Death ! Death ! 

Peter. Let me have a sight of that secret partisan. 

Alexis. Did Euphrosine know this ? 

Tolstoi. To conclude, we submit this sentence we 
now give, and the condemnation we at present 
make, to the sovereign power and will, and merciful 

104 



review of his Czarian Majesty, our most merciful 
monarch. 

[EUDOXIA has been supported down half 
fainting between two men. 

Peter. Let me know who — [ Withdraws veil from 
Eudoxia's face^ It is the root of all this evil. It 
is your mother ! 

Alexis. My mother ! My one friend ! 

[ Would go to her ; is restrained. 

Peter. Do not hinder him ! It is not much. Who 
loosed her ? And who brought her here ? 

Cath. \JJut of gallery i\ I did. I am coming down. 
Alexis. Mother, I have been a bad son to you. 
Eudoxia. Alexis, oh, Alexis, this cannot be ! 

[Catherine enters at back, falls on her knees, 
and takes Peter'S hand in hers. 

Cath. Mercy, my lord ! All of you on your knees 
and implore his mercy. 

\All kneel, excepting Alexis. 

Peter. You sentenced him, and now you kneel 

to me. 

Cath. > ,;r . Tix 

^ , . \ Mercy ! Mercy ! 
hudoxia. ^ ■' 

Alexis. It is no use. He has resolved my death. 
It was in his eyes as he looked at me. How did I 
ever come to let it startle me ? I ought to have 
been prepared! 

Cath. But, Peter, you'll not do this ? 

Eudoxia. Husband — our child ! 

Peter. Not one of all you is with me. Not even 
you. 

Cath. In all else I have been — but, Peter 

Eudoxia. Husband — our child ! 

105 



Peter. No words can move me, only I can move 
myself. Leave me one and all ! Clear the room ! 
Take your prisoner to the fortress. Let his mother 
have access to him. Alone ! Alone ! Alone ! 

[Tolstoi, Menshikoff and Soldiers get 
everybody out of the room. 

Etidoxia. The Lord fill your heart with mercy ! 

Alexis. \Being forced out.] Mercy ! Expect no 
mercy from him ! Kill me ! Murder me ! You 
have killed /ler already ! 

[T/iey are all forced out. 

Cath. Don't bring this curse upon our child. 

Peter. I am lifting a curse away from him. 

Cath. By baptizing him in his brother's blood ? 

Peter. Do you think he would not confirm himself 
in his ? 

Cath. Then I would I had never borne you any 
son ! Better had I remained the common servant- 
girl I was ! — that is what I say, and let all Russia 
know it ! 

Peter. Close all the doors ! Let no one come in ! 

Cath. Ah, husband, husband ! {Exit. 

\The doors are all closed. Peter is left 
alone, his hands resting upon his stick and 
his forehead on his hands. 

Peter. Never a man had his heart screwed up 
in a vice like me. All their hands are on 
the long handle — all of their hands are on it — 
turning and turning it ! The last drops of blood 
and the last clots of flesh seemed to have oozed out 
of it. They can take their hands from the handle ; 
their work is done ; the two iron sides have come 
together — or no, not quite together — the shrivelled 

io6 



skin of what was once a joyful human heart still 
just keeps them from touching. But come — the 
sentence ! Let's grip and wrestle again. But let 
me get both shoulders to the ground this time. I 
thought I had done so before, — I had not. The 
paper is there, and there is the pen. \^Has made a 
space on the table for the Sentence of the Court and 
has laid a pen beside it."] Were I to let him 
live ? — If I came forth out of here and told them 
all? — They all think me pitiless. — If I did that? 
It is a temptation. Unscrew the dry skin of 
my heart out of the vice. Turn my back on all 
my labours — my factories and my dockyards ; on 
all the companions of my toil — on Gordon, Lefort, 
and the rest ; on all the men who have died 
for me ; and lead my people back into the desolate 
steppe, where Time wanders aimlessly with a tent 
and a herd through barren space ! No ! never ! 
I can't do that. Yet my thoughts won't let me 
mount them, and spur them on, on, on — as I used 
to — through the mist, into another mist, maybe, 
but still ever on and onwards. — No, to-day the 
trumpets are silent in my heart. If I let him 
live, could I ever make him love me ? No ; what 
would he see in my great mercifulness ? Only 
humanity — ordinary common humanity. They can 
see no life and death struggle in it, not one of them. 
A father kill his son, that's all they see in it. Only 
the very mightiest — Caesar, or Hannibal, or Charle- 
magne — thej/ might look into my heart and know its 
cruel agony ! At it again ; my head is beginning to 
whirl ! But I must end it. Which shall stand first 
— Father or Emperor ? Who shall tell me that ? 
\Clenches his hands and prays ^ You made me both ! 
You set them both at variance ! You know that my 

14* 107 



heart is not cruel towards him ! You know that it 
is full of pity ; but, like the rain-cloud with the 
thunder-bolt in its bosom, though it grieves for the 
parched-up fields, it must let the bolt fall somewhere. 
Let me but feel the purpose of my life this once ! 
In this great final moment, show me in which your 

will is found. Oh, God No, no ! it must be 

fought out here within me. No sanction for me but 
my own soul's sanction. [Goes toivard table, takes 
Mp pen, lays it down.'\ It is not fought out yet, 
and it must be ! [ Walks up and down.'] Which 
would I rather do ? Which tempts me ? The 
one that tempts me is the one I ought to put 
aside. I know which I would rather do. I will not 
juggle with my conscience. I would rather make 
all my arsenals and my fleet, and the very ground I 
stand on — this Petersburg of mine — safe and secure. 
Then ought I to choose the opposite ? But the 
opposite is so much easier ; for what other men call 
pain and weariness, is my joy and my refreshment. 
I cannot judge myself like other men. Yes, and if I 
slink back and hold my hand, that would secure my 
fame. It would secure me honour amongst men for 
all that I have done, even though it soon fall to 
pieces after me ; so that in destroying him, I make 
an equal sacrifice myself — the sacrifice of my his- 
toric glory. But I make it to my work. Let fame 
and glory pass from me, but let my work stand 
firm, for together our two bodies will sink down 
into the marsh but to make firmer the foundation 
of the city — and a great city that shall flourish 
and thrive happily over our graves. Yes, for hap- 
piness and peace, and the love you spoke of, son, 
shall spring up out of all this blood and torture. 
Son, I begin to understand it now — I hear the 

1 08 



trumpets sounding in my heart. I am for light 
and love ; you are against it. You only see the 
amputation and the cruel surgery ; I see God's light 
brought back to the darkened eye, and circulation 
restored to the stagnant blood. And yet — No, you 
are not against me, you are with me ! For light and 
love ! — your own words have laid you low. \Grasps 
pen.'] Therefore, as you are with me in the wish, 
but cannot follow me in the means — the only way to 
save us both — I sign ! Oh, my son, Absalom ! Oh, 
Absalom, my son — my son ! 



Curtain. 



109 



ACT V. 

Scene. — A casemate in the fortress of St. Peter and 
St. Paul. Two Embrasures look over the Neva. 
Day is breaking. 

[Alexis discovered looking out of one of the 
embrasures. Peter enters by door R. 
Alexis looks round, then looks across the 
water agai?t, then again looks round. 

Alexis. My father, my accuser and my judge — are 
you also come to be my executioner ? 

Peter. I come to ask for your forgiveness. 

Alexis. You are going to spare my life ? 

Peter. No ; I cannot do that. 

Alexis. And I am to forgive you ? I don't think 
you need mock me. 

Peter. Son, look into my face. Or, if the light's 
too feeble yet, then put your fingers to my eyes. 

Alexis. Is this hypocrisy, or what? — No, I think 
I begin to really know you now. You are hardly a 
sane man. Your eyes are dazzled and blinded with 
looking on the brilliancy of this greatness of yours. 

Peter. Then you do confess that I am great ? 

Alexis. Oh yes ; men call you so. 

Peter. I live for men. That is enough for me. 

Alexis. Do you remember teUing me that to be 
great was to be ankle deep in smoking blood. Well, 
you are that. It will be a particle of an inch higher 



TP 1 1 

1 u.. 1 J.- .A. 



in !~' 



than your ankles in a few minutes or so. And the 
last few drops will be of your own brewing and of 
your own shedding. 

Peter. Ah, don't go down to the grave cursing 
me ! We are both to be pitied — I as much as you. 

\Cannon discharged. 

Alexis. What are the cannon for ? 

Peter. To-day is the anniversary of Poltava. 

Alexis. It will be a double anniversary in future. 
Mind you keep it with due celebration. There'll 
be many of you drunk to-night, when I'm dead. I 
suppose you'll get drunk, too, won't you ? 

Peter. Well, I don't know. I generally do. 

Alexis. There is a boat putting off from the other 
side. Tolstoi is in it, and Menshikofif. It's going 
to be a lovely day. It will see something memorable, 
a son put to death by his own father. 

Peter. Your end will be sharp and momentary. 
Mine will be long, life-long. I shall live on into the 
night-time of my life. And as the sun sinks the 
shadow of this deed will lengthen and lengthen 
across my path — and yet — yet I must do it. 

Alexis. Yes, I suppose I shall rather damage your 
fame. 

Peter. Perhaps you will. Although I shall not 
have deserved it, I have got into an inextricable 
mesh. I have had to choose and I have chosen 
without pity, with consideration to myself. You do 
not die for me, but for those who are already dead 
for me. Go, son, and join the martyrs of your 
country, more glorious than all, because your sacri- 
fice was willing ! 

Alexis. I can't believe it. But my heart is opening 
to you. 



Peter. It is ! Ah, give it way — my arms are open 
to you. 

Alexis. At least you have Hved for something 
higher than Euphrosine. 

Peter. The waste of all your life will be repaired. 
We have been hardly dealt with. 

Alexis. Father, we have ! \Rnshes into his arms."] 
Your life has been more nobly spent than mine. 
And I will lay mine down for you. 

Peter. For Russia ! In this last moment I have 
known you for my son. For this last moment I have 
lived in you ! 

Alexis. For the duty I have failed in, father, for- 



give me 



Peter. And if I have failed in love, forgive me, son ! 
Alexis. Yet it is better that I should die. For I 
should fail in duty to you again. 

Peter. And I might fail again in love to you. 

[Monks heard chanting. 

Alexis. What is that chanting? 

Peter. Your requiem in the Cathedral overhead. 

\Bell tolls. 

Alexis. And that bell ? 

Peter. To announce your death. 

Alexis. The time has come ! 

Peter. {Looks at his watch ^ It is past your time. 

Alexis. Then let me die at once. 

Peter. Be brave ! be brave. [Peter goes to door 
and beckons in the Doctor and two others^ Wait for 
him in that room. He will come to you. 

{Exeunt Doctor and others R. 

Alexis. Poison is it to be ? 

Peter. Ay, poison ; keep up to it, and yours will be 
the noblest death in history. 



Alexis. She — I mean my mother — she will mourn 
me bitterly. She only really loved me. 

Peter. She shall know how you died, confessing 
my glory and the greatness of my Russia. 

Alexis. No, tell her my last thought was for her; 
and — and, father, take care of Euphrosine. See now, 
what a poor weak thing I am — unworthy for this 
world. 

Peter. You do forgive me, son ? 

Alexis. I understand that you can be forgiven, 
father. \Riishes out. 

Peter. I understand that you can be forgiven. 
\_A shriek^ It is done. 

\^Falls on his knees and crosses his hands. 
Chanting and bell are still continuing. 

Enter Tolstoi and Apraxin. 

Tolstoi. My lord — your son 

Peter. My son ! 

Tolstoi. The infant Tsarevitch is dead. 

Peter. \Removing his hat.'\ Then I am childless. 

Apraxin. Shall we put off these celebrations ? 

Peter. No. \Band of military music in distance^ 
I hear them coming. Let Poltava have her glory. 
[Alexis is carried in dead.'] And let it mingle with 
his requiem. He made fullest atonement at the last. 
I honour him. Let Russia honour him. He was 
my son, my own, my very son. 

\_Cur tain falls amidst chanting of choir, toll- 
ing of bell, and blare of approaching 
military bands. 

THE END. 



"3 



PETER THE GREAT 



A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS 



LAURENCE IRVING 



{Printed for private use only.] 



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